Technical Paper
A Crop Selection Algorithm for Closed Loop Food Systems
2005-07-11
2005-01-2817
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.