Technical Paper
A Study of the Effects of Bioregenerative Technology on a Regenerative Life Support System
1991-07-01
911509
The objectives set forth by NASA's Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) include the construction of a lunar base and the manned exploration of Mars early in the 21st century. However, current life support system technology is not capable of supporting such missions and remains one of the most fundamental limitations of space exploration. To date, life support systems have consisted of exhaustible supplies that limit missions to relatively short durations. This method has sufficed so far; however, if humans are to truly break away from Earth, it will be necessary to reproduce the characteristics of the terrestrial biosphere in extraterrestrial locations. Bioregenerative technology incorporates plants and animals as processors in a regenerative life support system.