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This paper describes a design proposal for adapting the OGEGU Food Production Unit (FPU) to the surface of Mars in order to produce up to 40% of the diet for a six-member crew by growing a pre-defined set of vegetable food species. The external structure, lighting system and plant support system are assessed using ESM analysis. The study shows that the mass of an FPU operating on the Mars surface, featuring an opaque inflatable structure plus all the required subsystems and equipment, is in the order of 14,000 kg. The required volume is around 150 m3 and the power consumption is around 140 kW. A reduction of c. 20 kW could be obtained by exploiting natural light using transparent materials. Finally, the paper concludes with the identification of some technological gaps that need to be investigated further for the purpose of establishing a feasible FPU on Mars.

It is logistically unfeasible to supply the crew of a long-term space mission with earth-borne food-products only. Thus, in order to provide sufficient food for space missions exceeding one year, it is necessary to implement a plant breeding system on board, which can at least partly cover the crew’s nutritional needs. In the frame of a European Space Agency (ESA) feasibility study on Closed Loop Food Systems (CLFS) for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Transit to Mars and Mars Surface scenarios, a nutrition selection algorithm was developed to define well equilibrated and diverse menus able to meet dietary requirements. First, an extensive, diversified crop list was compiled from a broad range of literature sources. Secondly, a database was constructed, containing all gathered information for the selected crops. In the scope of this ESA project, follow-up studies on plant growth chamber design and Equivalent System Mass (ESM) analysis were carried out.

The capacity of producing fresh food meeting crew’s nutritional requirements is an essential need for long-term planetary missions. To this end, the European Space Agency (ESA) has commissioned a feasibility study of Food Production Units (FPU) for their application in microgravity, transit and planetary environments. This paper describes the “On Ground Experimental Growth Unit” (OGEGU), which is a ground-based, closed loop FPU concept for plant cultivation, conceived as a first approach in the adaptation of food production systems to Space. The OGEGU design is based on state-of-the-art greenhouse technology. Nine OGEGU key subsystems (external structure, irrigation, lighting, plant support structure, crop handling, crop and seed preservation, climate control, water and nutrient delivery, and waste management) are discussed and implementation options are proposed considering constraints such as power, mass or volume imposed by their eventual use in Space.

Interest on food production systems based on the cultivation of vegetables for future planetary exploration missions is increasing as these units can help overcoming difficult and costly re-supply logistics. In addition to producing edible biomass by growing vegetable species, these systems can be used in closed loop configuration with bio-regenerative life support subsystems for water and CO2 recycling and O2 production. Aiming at this objective, the European Space Agency (ESA) undertook a feasibility study on Closed Loop Food Systems (CLFS) for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Transit to Mars and Mars Surface scenarios. This paper describes the study’s results. Firstly, candidate crops are selected based on nutritional characteristics and aspects like yield, cultivation surface and volume, and generated inedible biomass. A culture plan for these crops is then established.

The Columbus Orbital Facility is being developed as the European laboratory contribution to the United States' led International Space Station programme. The need to exchange thermal mathematical models frequently amongst the Space Station partners for thermal analyses in support of their individual programme milestone, integration and verification activities requires the development of a commonly agreed and effective approach to identify and validate mathematical models and environments. The approach needs to take into account the fact that the partners have different model and software tool requirements and the fact that the models need to be properly tailored to include all the relevant design features. It must also decouple both programmes from the unavoidable design changes they are still undergoing. This problem presents itself for both active and passive thermal interfaces.