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The Lunar-Mars Life Support Systems Test Project's Phase iii Test utilized the Variable Pressure Growth Chamber to contribute to the air revitalization and food requirements of a crew of four for a period of 91 days. USU-Apogee wheat was planted and harvested using a staged approach to provide more uniform levels of air revitalization and a staggered production of grain. The wheat crop provided an average of 1 .1 person-equivalents per day of carbon dioxide removal for air revitalization over the 91 -day human test. Over 34 kg of grain was harvested. it was found that staged cropping required more intensive management of the nutrient solution than single batch cropping. it was also found that salts which were biologically recovered from the plant biomass were as effective as conventional reagent-grade salts for use in the hydroponic nutrient solution.

Using the microgravity environment. Space Biotechnology investigations and applications will present new opportunities for advancing earth-based biological and biomedical product development and ultimately improve man's quality of life. The potential assets and benefits of Biotechnology to NASA's Space Program are increasing daily as are the converse benefits of space to a developing biotechnology program. Through the synergy of engineering principles, biological science phenomena, and the microgravity environments of space, a number of opportunities exist to improve and develop new medical or biological products, processes, and/or services.