Technical Paper
Connection Between Different Compartments of the MELISSA Biological Life Support System
2001-07-09
2001-01-2132
The MELISSA (Micro Ecological LIfe Support System Alternative) project of the European Space Agency (ESA) is a tool for the development of a simplified biological life support system. In order to achieve this purpose a loop of four interconnected bioreactors and a higher plant compartment has been designed. The target of the loop is to recycle the wastes, mainly CO2 and organic materials, generated in a closed environment such as in manned space missions, into oxygen, water and edible material. Light is the only energy source used to reach this goal. As a part of the development of the project, a Pilot Plant laboratory has been set up. The role of this pilot plant is to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the Melissa concept. In order to study the system two kinds of experiments are required. On one hand, each compartment has to be well characterized and, on the other hand, the performance of the connection between compartments has to be evaluated.