Human Life Support System Research Articles

Safely advancing a spacefaring humanity with artificial intelligence

A “Space Renaissance” is underway. As our efforts to understand, utilize and settle space rapidly take new form, three distinct human-space interfaces are emerging, defined here as the “Earth-for-space,” “space-for-Earth” and “space-for-space” economies. Each engenders unprecedented opportunities, and artificial intelligence (AI) will play an essential role in facilitating innovative, accurate and responsive endeavors given the hostile, expansive and uncertain nature of extraterrestrial environments. However, the proliferation of, and reliance on, AI in this context is poised to aggravate existing threats and give rise to new risks, which are largely underappreciated, especially given the potential for great power competition and arms-race-type dynamics. Here, we examine possible beneficial applications of AI through the systematic prism of the three economies, including advancing the astronomical sciences, resource efficiency, technological innovation, telecommunications, Earth observation, planetary defense, mission strategy, human life support systems and artificial astronauts. Then we consider unintended and malicious risks arising from AI in space, which could have catastrophic consequences for life on Earth, space stations and space settlements. As a response to mitigate these risks, we call for urgent expansion of existing “responsible use of AI in space” frameworks to address “ethical limits” in both civilian and non-civilian space economy ventures, alongside national, bilateral and international cooperation to enforce mechanisms for robust, explainable, secure, accountable, fair and societally beneficial AI in space.

Paradigm Shift from Telemedicine to Autonomous Human Health and Performance for Long-Duration Space Missions

This paper discusses a Prognostics and Health Management [PHM]-based approach to implementing Human Health & Performance [HH&P] technologies. Targeted specifically are NASA Autonomous Medical Decision and Integrated Biomedical Informatics of Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems in Technology Area 06 [TA 06] of NASA integrated technology roadmap [April 2012]. The proposed PHM-based implementation is to bridge PHM, an engineering discipline, to the HH&P technology domain to mitigate space travel risks by focusing on efforts to reduce countermeasure mass and volume, and drive down risks to an acceptable level. NASA Autonomous Medical Decision technology is based on wireless handheld devices and is a result of a necessary paradigm shift from telemedicine to HH&P autonomy. The Integrated Biomedical Informatics technology is based on Crew Electronic Health Records [CEHR], equipped with a predictive diagnostics capability developed for use by crew members rather than by healthcare professionals. This paper further explores the proposed PHM-based solutions for crew health maintenance in terms of predictive diagnostics to provide early and actionable real-time warnings to each crew member about health-related risks and impending health problems that otherwise might go undetected. The paper also discusses the paradigm’s hypothesis and its innovation methodology, as implemented with computed biomarkers. The suggested paradigm is to be validated on the International Space Station [ISS] to ensure that crew autonomy in terms of the inherent predictive capability and two-fault-tolerance of the methodology become the dominant design drivers in sustaining crew health and performance.

Quiet Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation Fan: Vibration Measurements Results

Quiet, efficient fans with minimal vibrations are needed to maximize the mechanical life of atmospheric revitalization system fans used for human life support systems for long duration space exploration missions. Several metal spacecraft cabin ventilation fan prototypes have been designed, built, and tested at the NASA Glenn Research Center Acoustical Testing Laboratory. Tests performed in 2021 of the first prototype of the metal fan measured vibrations greater than desired at design point speed and backpressure conditions. To try to reduce those vibrations, a second prototype of the fan design was developed which included a new lighter rotor with a tighter balance tolerance, a new collet to attach the rotor to the motor shaft more securely and repeatably, and a new bracket to center and hold the motor in the fan centerbody more precisely. The second prototype of the fan was tested in 2023 and the vibrations were measured with the fan operating at design point speeds in isolation but not throttled to design point back pressure conditions since it was not installed with inlet and exhaust ducting. Peak vibration was reduced from 4 mm/s to 1 mm/s. This paper is part of a series of reports documenting the performance of the prototype fan.

Formulation of a Simulated Wastewater Influent Composition for Use in the Research of Technologies for Managing Wastewaters Generated during Manned Long-Term Space Exploration and Other Similar Situations—Literature-Based Composition Development

The prospect of humans inhabiting planetary bodies is gaining interest among research and development communities, with the moon being considered as a transitory base camp and Mars the next planet humans will inhabit. NASA's Mission to Mars program is set to have humans inhabiting Mars within on-planet space camps by the Year 2030, which has tremendously increased research and development for space exploration-including research oriented toward human life support in long-term planetary lodging camps. The sustenance of human life on Mars will not be trivial due to the unavailability of an appropriate atmosphere and usable water. This situation requires a self-sustaining human life support system that can provide the basic needs such are breathable air, potable water, food, and energy. The feasibility of sending a payload with resources adequate to support long-term human inhabitation is not reasonable, which means every resource within a Mars space camp is valuable, including human-produced wastes. A biorefinery system that treats wastewater and can also produce valuable products such as oxygen, food, and energy offers a form of circular utilization of valuable resources. To conduct research for such systems requires a wastewater influent that is representative of the wastewater to be generated by the space crew within this isolated, confined environment, which is different from what is generated on Earth due to limited variability in diet, human activity, and lifestyle in this confined area. Collection of actual wastewater influent from an isolated environment supporting humans is challenging. Additionally, to ensure a safe working environment in the laboratory and avoid the imposed threat of handling actual human feces, the proposed synthetic, non-human feces containing wastewater influent formulation offers an easy-to-produce and safer-to-handle option. This paper reviews several synthetic wastewater compositions that have been formulated for space exploration purposes. None of the formulations were found to be realistic nor adequate for a space-camp-type scenario. Thus, the formulation of a synthetic wastewater for simulating a wastewater influent from a human space-based camp is proposed in this paper. In addition, the physical, chemical, and biodegradation characteristics of the final formulation designed are presented to illustrate the value of the proposed influent formulation.

ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЕ ВЫГОРАНИЕ: КРИТЕРИИ ОЦЕНКИ И СПОСОБЫ СВОЕВРЕМЕННОГО ПРЕДОТВРАЩЕНИЯ

The subject of the study is socio-economic and psychological relations in the process of labor activity and the human life support system, which affect the professional burnout of workers. The object of the study is the syndrome of professional burnout (preconditions, stages, forms of manifestation) of employees. The purpose of the study is to improve the results of work by identifying and then leveling professional burnout. The high importance of measures to level the syndrome of professional burnout required knowledge of the prerequisites for the occurrence of this problem, factors of influence, and methods of timely prevention, which emphasizes the relevance of the research topic. The scientific novelty lies in the grouping of currently used approaches to the concept of "professional burnout". It is shown that the accelerated introduction of the achievements of scientific and technological progress (including the Internet) in all spheres of public life, including labor, causes an increase in the level of anxiety about one’s place. in the environment and personal achievements, which results in the fear of missing out (FOMO), which negatively affects and leads to a breakdown in the emotional state and gradual burnout. The research methods are analysis, systematization, synthesis, induction, deduction, and modeling. To achieve this goal, the following results were obtained: consideration of the theoretical foundations of the problem of "professional burnout"; analysis of factors influencing the occurrence of the "professional burnout" syndrome; systematization of stages and signs of professional burnout; assessment of professional burnout level among company employees (on the example of employees of a state corporation); formulation of recommendations for preventing and reducing the consequences of professional burnout. On the basis of the theoretical substantiation of the concept of "professional burnout", the main conclusion and practical recommendations are made, the factors influencing the occurrence of this syndrome and the stages of manifestation are considered, examples of their occurrence are given, and the practical experience of companies is analyzed and measures to prevent this phenomenon are suggested.

Assessment of Scientific Payload Carrying Spirulina Onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard Vehicle

The research team at ERAU and UTHSCSA analyzed the effects of suborbital flight stressors and various light conditions (red, white, no light) on the Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle. Commercially available cyanobacterium species were cultivated and closely monitored in mother colonies several months before the suborbital flight mission. The aim of this study was to estimate the biomass production and growth as a potential dietary alternative for prospective human spaceflight's life support system. Spirulina samples were flown in a NanoLab with adjacent avionics supporting the light conditions and sensors to monitor the temperature, relative humidity, and accelerations. The various flight parameters measured in the NanoLab were validated with the flight data gathered by Nanoracks, the flight integrator. Thus, we also assessed the effect of microgravity and different light conditions on the gene expression. Our data indicates that the Spirulina samples onboard the rocket had significant (p < 0.01-0.0001) downregulation of majority of the gene expression.

An environmental monitoring system for the availability of drinking water for the population as an ecosystem service in areas exposed to covid-19

An effectiveness of the protected or rehabilitated natural assets will provide information on the availability of natural resources to respond to the impacts of climate change and ecosystem health. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic disaster increasingly shows that if humans destroy biodiversity, it also destroys human life-support systems. The purpose of the research to obtain a dynamic-empirical description of the availability of clean water for drinking water for residents in areas exposed to the Covid-19 pandemic as an implementation of an environmental monitoring system for ecosystem services. The research method uses quantitative methods. The results showed that: (1) although the low pressure area affected the number of customer complaints, it was not entirely the main factor that most dominantly affected the number of complaints of small water, dead water, and water quality in the studied area. (2) The results of the R square regression test show the percentage of the influence of low pressure areas on complaints of small water complaints, dead water, and water quality; is below 100%. The conclusion shows that although low water pressure occurs in areas exposed to Covid-19 in DKI Jakarta, it does not always affect customer complaints. This is because low water pressure is not entirely caused by small water, dead water, or water quality. Therefore, the environmental monitoring system for the availability of drinking water for the population as an ecosystem service pays more attention to other parameters besides small water, dead water, and water quality.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEORETICAL BASIS AND PRACTICAL EVALUATION OF RESULTS MANAGEMENT OF STAKEHOLDERS IN PROJECTS

Problem statement. The paper proposes a solution to the current scientific and applied problem – improving the efficiency and quality of concepts of territorial development through the use of objective methods to justify the objectives, content and boundaries of projects. It is shown that the complex reconstruction of residential areas should be considered as a natural process of renewal and improvement of urban planning and development, improving the quality of habitat and human life support system, efficiency of use of territories and housing. The ability to correctly determine the goals, size of the project, the coordination of the developer's own interests with the interests of future owners leads to maximum results and efficiency. It is shown that in the development of development and management of development projects there are still a number of unresolved issues, including: integration of development companies with the environment and the needs of the environment, and not yet sufficiently developed objective methods of substantiation of concepts, content and boundaries of multifaceted development projects. Conceptual solutions of development projects are considered as an object of research. The object of the study is to increase the efficiency and quality of development projects through objective methods of substantiation of the content and boundaries of projects. As a purpose of the study the following tasks were identified and solved: an analysis of the environment of development projects was performed and the main categories of stakeholders and their range of interests were identified; the system of the purposes and priorities at development and an estimation of possible alternatives of projects is defined; algorithms of actions and tools for substantiation of the maintenance and borders of development projects on the basis of uniform system of the purposes and priorities are offered. The results of the study will increase the efficiency of development projects and increase the profitability of land use.

Echoes of the sea around us—Human hopes in the balance

Earth’s human life-support system shows signs of failing. Human capacity to alter landscapes and the atmosphere is reaching catastrophic levels. Only the oceans seemed to be beyond control, but still they are not beyond human influence. Limited experience in protecting nature’s integrity, health, and resilience in seascapes offers the potential to reverse sliding global environmental conditions by providing realistic expectations, offering moral fortitude, stimulating imagination, and proffering hope. The ocean’s capacity to evoke human awe and inspiration may be sufficient to focusmankind on the global existential threats we face. It is now vital to heed Rachael Carson’s 1937 prescient observation “Against this cosmic background the lifetime of a particular plant or animal appears not as a drama complete in itself but only as a brief interlude in a panorama of endless change.” The world will keep spinning, whether people are able to enjoy the ride or not.

Development of a regenerated carbon dioxide absorber for human life support systems during long space flights

In the development of life support systems for long-term space missions, the most important tasks are the absorption of carbon dioxide from the air, the production of carbon dioxide with a concentration above 98 %, and the production of oxygen from carbon dioxide by the Bosch – Sabatier process. To solve these problems, a regenerative carbon dioxide absorber adapted to space flight conditions is required. The article proposes a new method for the production of chemosorbents based on hydrated zirconium oxide using polyacrylates as a binder and polymer matrix. The regenerated absorber of carbon dioxide for its application in space flights must meet the regulatory requirements of sanitary-chemical and toxicological safety of materials intended for the equipment of inhabited sealed rooms, be resistant to radiation and to the effects of mold. In the study of the processes of “sorption – desorption” of carbon dioxide, we have established the relationship between the technological parameters of the synthesis of chemosorbents and the kinetic parameters of the processes of mass-sorption of sorbate in the “sorption – regeneration” cycles. It is found that the optimal weight ratio of the “adsorbent – filler/polymer matrix” 89÷94/11÷6 is optimal in terms of the performance characteristics of the developed absorbers. It is shown experimentally that the main operational characteristics of the developed materials do not change under experimental conditions during 2000 “sorption – regeneration” cycles. The resulting chemosorbents are investigated by physicochemical analysis. Employing methods of gas chromatography and chromatomass spectrometry, we have conducted sanitary and chemical studies and toxicological assessment of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the components of gas release of the developed regenerated carbon dioxide absorber and air-gas mixture formed during the regeneration of the regenerated carbon dioxide absorber. Also we have carried out microbiological tests of samples of the regenerated absorber of carbon dioxide for resistance of material to influence of mold mushrooms. The results obtained confirm the possibility of using the developed materials in life support systems of manned spacecraft for deep space exploration.

Effect of altered nitrogen partial pressure on Chlorellaceae for spaceflight applications

Algal-based photobioreactors offer a promising bioregenerative technology that can perform the functions of air revitalization, water recycling, and food production in a human spacecraft life support system. In order to assess their performance in this context, this study exposed a non-axenic green algal culture (Chlorellacea) to an atmospheric pressure of 8.2psia [56.5 kPa] with an oxygen concentration of 34%, which are currently proposed cabin atmosphere conditions for future space exploration missions. Growth and metabolism of green algae were compared to a control experiment kept at 14.7psia [101.3 kPa] with oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure maintained at constant levels of 3.1 and 0.147psia [21.3 and 1.0 kPa], respectively, which represent concentrations of 21 and 1% at standard sea level pressure. To conduct the evaluation, a flow-through photobioreactor was developed that can precisely control atmospheric compositions such as partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide and set the total pressure solely by altering the nitrogen partial pressure. Algal performance was measured by daily cell counts and optical density measurements. Additionally, continuous measurements of dissolved oxygen and pH in the liquid phase, as well as evolved oxygen and absorbed carbon dioxide in the gaseous phase, were collected. A metagenomic analysis was conducted on the algal culture to assure the composition of the algal culture remained consistent during the experimental phase, as well as to characterize the nature of coexisting contaminants in the non-axenic culture. The performance of the algal culture was compared to related, previously published literature values. The hypothesized increase in performance of the algal culture under reduced pressures was not verified, rather it was shown that the nitrogen partial pressure neither benefits nor inhibits algal growth under the tested conditions.

Incorporation of mineralized human waste and fish waste as a source of higher plant mineral nutrition in the BTLSS mass exchange

The present study deals with the development of the principles and conditions of fish waste mineralization using the method of wet combustion with hydrogen peroxide in alternating electromagnetic field and describes testing mineralized human waste and fish waste as sources of nutrients for plants in the biotechnical human life support system (BTLSS). The study shows that mineralization of fish waste in the wet combustion reactor should be performed in the presence of readily oxidized organic matter, represented by human waste, as an activator of oxidation. Re-mineralization of the sediment in the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid in the wet combustion reactor converts mineral elements bound in the sediment into the form available to plants. Using mineralized fish waste as an additional source of mineral elements in the nutrient solutions for growing plants based on mineralized human waste is a way to reduce the amounts of mineral elements added to the solution to replenish it, enabling fuller closure of material loops in the BTLSS.

Socio Economic Factors Causing Rapid Peatlands Degradation in South Sumatra

Naturally peatlands ecosystem belongs to a stable ecosystem and tends to increase its peat thickness, but if the balance of its natural conditions is disturbed, then peatlands are easily degraded and lost altogether. The research aimed to analyze the socio-economic determinant factors causing why peatlands in South Sumatra are rapidly degraded, thus it is threatening the existence of the human life support system. The research method was using an explorative and descriptive method by making the web portal of Google search engine. Keywords were used for searching ‘peatland’, ‘degradation’ and/or ‘socio-economic causes’ in title and abstract. To analyze priority level of socio-economic aspects in contributing to peatlands degradation, thus an AHP analysis was conducted and interview with selected respondents. The research resulted that socio-economic determinant factors causing peatlands degradation are complex and integrated each other. Based on clustering the main sequence of causing peatlands degradation was performed by increasing population; increasing poverty; win-win approach; security of land ownership; and agricultural infrastructure and expansion respectively. Understanding this cluster with a comprehensive approach is needed to decide what factors play in the degradation of peatland, so that the policies made are precise and targeted. At this time the government requires to restore peatlands, so that peatlands can be preserved forever.

Estimating CO2 gas exchange in mixed age vegetable plant communities grown on soil-like substrates for life support systems

If soil-like substrate (SLS) is to be used in human life support systems with a high degree of mass closure, the rate of its gas exchange as a compartment for mineralization of plant biomass should be understood. The purpose of this study was to compare variations in CO2 gas exchange of vegetable plant communities grown on the soil-like substrate using a number of plant age groups, which determined the so-called conveyor interval. Two experimental plant communities were grown as plant conveyors with different conveyor intervals. The first plant community consisted of conveyors with intervals of 7 days for carrot and beet and 14 days for chufa sedge. The conveyor intervals in the second plant community were 14 days for carrot and beet and 28 days for chufa sedge. This study showed that increasing the number of age groups in the conveyor and, thus, increasing the frequency of adding plant waste to the SLS, decreased the range of variations in CO2 concentration in the “plant–soil-like substrate” system. However, the resultant CO2 gas exchange was shifted towards CO2 release to the atmosphere of the plant community with short conveyor intervals. The duration of the conveyor interval did not significantly affect productivity and mineral composition of plants grown on the SLS.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTS AS ELEMENTS OF INFORMATIONAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The article shows the objective criteria of sacralization of objects of natural and culturalheritage of Eastern Europe and Southern Siberia, based on the performance of informational function inancient human life-support system (as instruments of navigation in space-time). Transformation of functionsof sacral objects from their inception to the beginning of the third millennium, due to the development ofgeo-cultural space (changes in technology, socio-cultural paradigm and social and economic conditions). Thestages of the evolution of navigation technologies, selected by the author on the basis of cultural layering ofarchaeological objects are reviewed in the article. The carried-out retrospective analysis allows to make theassumption that improvement of technologies of orientation could be a basis of emergence and developmentof Homo sapiens (sapientation): astronomical supervision in horizon observatory develops a system ofecological thinking; supervision over a shadow of the gnomon tool develops abstract thinking (the abstractgraphic sign is genetically connected with concrete natural process)

Gut microbes in correlation with mood: case study in a closed experimental human life support system.

Gut microbial community, which may influence our mood, can be shaped by modulating the gut ecosystem through dietary strategies. Understanding the gut-brain correlationship in healthy people is important for maintenance of mental health and prevention of mental illnesses. A case study on the correlation between gut microbial alternation and mood swing of healthy adults was conducted in a closed human life support system during a 105-day experiment. Gut microbial community structures were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing every 2 weeks. A profile of mood states questionnaire was used to record the mood swings. Correlation between gut microbes and mood were identified with partial least squares discrimination analysis. Microbial community structures in the three healthy adults were strongly correlated with mood states. Bacterial genera Roseburia, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospira, and Prevotella had potential positive correlation with positive mood, while genera Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Anaerostipes were correlated with negative mood. Among which, Faecalibacterium spp. had the highest abundance, and showed a significant negative correlation with mood. Our results indicated that the composition of microbial community could play a role in emotional change in mentally physically healthy adults.

Effects of mineral nutrition conditions on heat tolerance of chufa (Сyperus esculentus L.) plant communities to super optimal air temperatures in the BTLSS

The use of mineralized human wastes as a basis for nutrient solutions will increase the degree of material closure of bio-technical human life support systems. As stress tolerance of plants is determined, among other factors, by the conditions under which they have been grown before exposure to a stressor, the purpose of the study is to investigate the level of tolerance of chufa (Cyperus esculentus L.) plant communities grown in solutions based on mineralized human wastes to a damaging air temperature, 45°C. Experiments were performed with 30-day-old chufa plant communities grown hydroponically, on expanded clay aggregate, under artificial light, at 690μmolm−2s−1 PAR and at a temperature of 25°C. Plants were grown in Knop’s solution and solutions based on human wastes mineralized according to Yu.A. Kudenko’s method, which contained nitrogen either as ammonium and urea or as nitrates. The heat shock treatment lasted 20h at 690 and 1150μmolm−2s−1 PAR. Chufa heat tolerance was evaluated based on parameters of CO2 gas exchange, the state of its photosynthetic apparatus (PSA), and intensity of peroxidation of leaf lipids. Chufa plants grown in the solutions based on mineralized human wastes that contained ammonium and urea had lower heat tolerance than plants grown in standard mineral solutions. Heat tolerance of the plants grown in the solutions based on mineralized human wastes that mainly contained nitrate nitrogen was insignificantly different from the heat tolerance of the plants grown in standard mineral solutions. A PAR intensity increase from 690μmolm−2s−1 to 1150μmolm−2s−1 enhanced heat tolerance of chufa plant communities, irrespective of the conditions of mineral nutrition under which they had been grown.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services: a global change perspective.

Abstract A key challenge facing humanity in the coming decades will be ensuring food supply to a growing human population without compromising the sustainability of many agro-ecosystems worldwide. Although agricultural soils remain firmly at the foundation of human life-support systems, human domination of terrestrial ecosystems over the last century has greatly affected their long-term sustainability as well as reducing soil biological diversity. This has mainly occurred through widespread land-use changes and through the chronic deposition of biologically available nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Here I argue that a better understanding of the ecological role of symbiotic N-fixers could help in developing more sustainable multifunctional agro-ecosystems. N-fixers are beneficial for the delivery of multiple ecosystem services such as greater primary productivity (i.e. increased crop yields), increased soil carbon (C) and N sequestration, and higher soil biological diversity. Understanding the ecological mechanisms responsible for the provision of these ecosystem services may also be critical for reducing the global-warming potential of many agricultural practices worldwide.

Virulence of oral cavity bacteria and microgravity: Aeronautic dentistry

Attachments of oral microbials , an etiological agents to dental caries, to enamel surfaces are influenced by production or flow of saliva in oral cavity. Unlike earth gravity, microgravity environment may change production or flow of, for example, parotid gland saliva. As a result, development of dental caries may be revealed to either upregulation or down-regulation in the microgravity. The microgravity may affect flow of saliva and biofilm formation on the tooth surface in the oral cavity. It has been reported that bacteria become less susceptible to antimicrobial agents under conditions of microgravity, while humans suffer immunosuppression with prolonged space flight. In addition, some bacteria grow more rapidly in the weightless environment of spacecraft such as oral bacteria. Hence, dental diseases became a really medical emergency .As a consequence, human life support systems planned for future long-term space flight missions will require high quality dental care to minimize the risk of oral infectious disease and system deterioration. Recent study suggested that attention to oral hygiene including special care may be required to diminish the risk of oral diseases in long time life for continued health of the pilots in the space station.

A possible NaCl pathway in the bioregenerative human life support system

One of the ways to involve NaCl in the mass exchange of the bioregenerative human life support system (BLSS) is to grow some vegetables and leafy greens that can accumulate sodium chloride at high concentrations in their edible biomass. Lettuce, celery cabbage, chard, dill and radish plants were grown hydroponically in Knop's nutrient solution. In the first series of experiments, at the end of the growth period the plants were grown on solutions containing 2–14 g/L of NaCl for 1–5 days. It was found that the amount of sodium in edible biomass of the plants increased with NaCl concentration in the solution and with the time plants were irrigated with that solution. The content of NaCl in the biomass of leaves and edible roots was considerable—up to 10% dry matter. At the same time, the amount of water in the leaves decreased and productivity of the treatment plants was 14–28% lower than that of the control ones, grown on Knop's solution. The treatment plants contained less than half of the amount of nitrates recorded in the control ones. Expert evaluation showed that the taste of the vegetables and leafy greens of the treatment group were not inferior to the taste of the control plants. In the second series of experiments, prior to being grown on the NaCl solution, the plants were irrigated with water for 2, 4 or 6 days. It was found that lower salt status of the plants was not favorable for increased salt accumulation in their biomass. If a human consumes 30 g salad vegetables and follows a low-sodium diet (3 g/d of table salt), it may be feasible to recycle NaCl in the BLSS using vegetables and leafy greens.