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Planetary surface exploration and establishment of human habitats are complex tasks requiring a wide variety of capabilities. We currently do not posses these capabilities or experience base necessary for long-duration habitation of other planets. Future exploration can be guided by experiences gained during analogous activities at appropriate sites on Earth. The Antarctic continent is of great analog value to NASA in the area of planetary exploration. The U.S. South Pole Station is of particular relevance to habitat development. The Station offers great fidelity in resemblance to NASA missions, an effective infrastructure is already in place to support activities, and implementation of NASA-derived technologies can improve the quality of life for Station inhabitants and reduce the environmental impact of human activities on the Antarctic continent. These technologies can also address important issues facing remote communities around the globe.

A ground-based facility for the study of plant growth and development under stringently controlled environments is being developed by the CELSS program at the Ames Research Center. Several Crop Growth Research Chambers (CGRC) and laboratory support equipment provide the core of this facility. The CGRC is a closed (sealed) system with separate recirculating atmosphere and nutrient delivery systems. Environmental influences on gas exchange, growth and development, and biomass and food production of crop plants growing within the closed environment will be investigated. Laboratory size of the CGRC will be small enough to allow treatment replication but large enough to provide information representative of larger plant communities. Water recovery and management systems and gas management systems will be included. Eventual integration of candidate waste processing technologies into the cycling system is intended.