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With astronauts and cosmonauts spending longer periods in space, we must understand and anticipate the effects of the environment on those who live and work in space and on their progeny. Since current launch vehicles restrict payload to low volumes and low masses, we must work within these design restrictions. Two biological experiments, one involving female newts and the other involving the eggs of a small fresh-water fish called revulines, are to be carried aboard the Japanese space flyer unit (SFU) in 1994. The experiment system, named BIO, is implemented on Special Payload Unit (SPLU) of SFU. Experiment are conducted with a service provided for SPLU. BIO consists of two experiment units, a controller, and a power supply. Each experiments, contains an aqua chamber to hold the live specimens. The temperature and gas in the chamber are maintained by a thermo exchanger and gas exchanger.

Materially-closed aquatic life support systems containing vascular plants, invertebrate animals, algae and microbes were tested in three space flight experiments with ground controls. Termed Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS), the 0.9 liter systems were completely isolated from spacecraft life support systems and cabin atmosphere contaminants, and needed minimal intervention from astronauts. The first experiment, aboard the Space Shuttle in 1996 for 10 days, was the first time that aquatic angiosperms were successfully grown in space. The second and third experiments aboard the Mir space station had 4-month durations, in 1996-97 and 1997-98, and were the first time that higher organisms (aquatic invertebrate animals) completed their life cycles in space. Compared to the ground control ABS, the flight units showed clearer water and slightly higher total organic carbon and soluble free amino acids. ABS units from all 3 flights returned as diverse and complex ecosystems.