Abstract
We describe the experimental system having maximal possible closure of material recycling in an ecosystem, including people and plants, which was carried out in a hermetically sealed experimental complex “BIOS-3”, 315 m 2 in volume. The system included 2 experimentators and 3 phytotrons with plants (total sowing area of 63 m 2). Plants were grown with round-the-clock lamp irradiation with 130 Wm −2 PAR intensity. The plants production was food for people. Water exchange of ecosystem, as well as gas exchange, was fully closed excluding liquids and gas samples taken for chemical analysis outside the system. The total closure of material turnover constituted 91%. Health state of the crew was estimated before, during and after the experiment. A 5-months period did not affect their health. The experiments carried out prove that the closed ecosystem of “man-plants” is a prototype of a life-support system for long-term space expeditions.
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