Possible applications of aquatic bioregenerative life support modules for food production in a Martian base

Abstract

Water is the essential precondition of life in general and also for the establishment of a martian base suitable for long duration stays of humans. It is not yet proven if there is indeed a “frozen ocean” under the surface of mars but if this could be verified it would open innovative aspects for the construction of bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). In a general concept higher plants will play the predominant role in a martian BLSS. It is not clear, however, how these will grow and bring seed in reduced gravity and there may be differences in the productivity in comparison to Earth conditions. Therefore, organisms which are already adapted to low gravity conditions, namely non-gravitropic aquatic plants and also aquatic animals may be used to enhance the functionality of the martian BLSS as a whole. It has been shown already with the so-called C.E.B.A.S. MINIMODULE in the STS-89 and STS-90 spaceshuttle missions that the water plant Ceratophyllum demersum has an undisturbed and high biomass production under space conditions. Moreover, the teleost fish species Xiphophorus helleri adapted easily to the micro-g environment and maintained its normal reproductive functions. Based on this findings a possible scenario is presented in which aquatic plant production modules and combined animal-plant production systems may be used for human food production and water and air regeneration in a martian base.