Barta, Daniel J.

NASA Technical Reports Server

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Lunar Mars Life       
Support Test 
P j tro ec
Daniel J. Barta, Ph.D.
Manager, Next Generation Life Support Project
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
26 May 2016
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160006345 2019-08-31T03:11:51+00:00Z
Background
NASA’s Large Scale Bioregenerative Life Support Tests
KSC’s Biomass Production Chamber
• Large-scale closed crop testing
• Control system development
• Evaluation of robotic arm (Florida State)
• Wastewater processing by crops
• Trace gas evolution & microbial ecology
JSC’s Large Scale Human-In-
The Loop Testing-  
•Large-scale crop testing
•Human test subjects
•Closed atmosphere 
• Integration of physicochemical 
and biological technologies
Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project (LMLSTP)
F t t ith h t t bj t f d b t 1995 d 1998
Test Phase I Phase II Phase IIA Phase III
our es s w  uman es  su ec s were per orme  e ween  an   
at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Duration 15 days 30 days 60 days 91 days
Crew 1 4 4 4
I t t d
Types of 
Systems
Biological 
(Wheat)
Physicochemical
(Advanced)
Physicochemical
(ISS Regenerative 
ECLSS)
n egra e  
Physicochemical 
& Biological 
(Advanced)
Full 
Closure Air Air & Water Air & Water Air & Water
Partial
Closure
Food & Waste
Open Water, F d & F d & W t F d & W t
3
 
Loop oo   Waste
oo   as e oo   as e
Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project
Phase I:  15-day, 1-Person Test
T t F ilitCREW CABIN
GROWTH CHAMBER
es   ac y 
• 2.7 m wide by 2.4 m tall 
atmospherically sealed with 2 
compartments – 19.2 m3 (crew 
(11.2 m2 growing area)
CO2
O2 CO2 O2 CO2 CO2
cabin) & 27 m3 (growth 
chamber).  
• Growth chamber section 
outfitted with a hydroponic
O2 
Concentrator
O2
       
growing system for wheat. 
• Leak rate <2% volume per day
O2
Net Photosynthesis (PS n)Respiration
LMLSTP Phase I:  15-day, 1-Person Test
Expected rate of photosynthesis of a wheat crop
n
70
80
1 6
1.8
2.0
t
y
p
e
r
 
d
a
y
s
s
i
m
i
l
a
t
i
o
n
Cultivar: Yecora Rojo
Growing Area 11.2 m2
PPF 1500 2 1
Crop Carbon 
Dioxide 
Assimilation
50
60
1.2
1.4
.
2
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r
)
o
n
 
C
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s
 
D
i
o
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A
s :  m- s-
Photoperiod: 24 hr
30
40
0.6
0.8
1.0
m
s
/
1
1
.
2
 
m
2
e
v
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a
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q
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a
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D
Human Daily Requirement for Carbon Dioxide Removal
0
10
20
0 0
0.2
0.4
(
g
r
a
m
A
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R
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H
u
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a
s 15-Day Test
65605550454035302520151050
.
Days After Seeding
H
p
 
P
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o
t
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y
The growth chamber was expected to exceed the carbon dioxide removal 
it d d ti i t f d i th
5
C
r
o capac y an  oxygen pro uc on requ remen  or one person ur ng e 
15 day period selected for the test (shaded).
Curve derived from Bugbee and Salisbury “Exploring the Limits of Crop Productivity”
LMLSTP Phase I:  15-day, 1-Person Test
Control of Atmospheric Composition
Th th d f t lli t h i CO d O d t t dree me o s or con ro ng a mosp er c 2 an  2 were emons ra e . 
Physicochemical (P/C) systems were used to correct for imbalances between crew 
respiration and crop photosynthesis (PSn) was regulated directly.
Method of 
Control
Integrated P/C & 
Biological
Environmental 
Regulation of PSn
Environmental 
Regulation of PSn
Days of Test 1-6 7-12 13-15
Photosynthesis Maximum Limited by Light Intensity
Limited by CO2
Availability
D i ti P/C Systems Crop CO2 Assimilation Matched to Crew escr p on Correct Imbalance CO2 Output Respiration
Photosynthetic 
Photon Flux Fixed Intensity
Intensity Adjusted
Continuously to Fixed Intensity
(Light Level) Maintain Cabin [CO2]
Supplemental 
CO2 Injection
Inject to maintain 
cabin [CO2]
Contingency Only
6
P/C O2 Scrubber
Remove O2 to 
maintain cabin [O2]
Contingency Only
Demonstrated three control strategies
LMLSTP Phase I:  15-day, 1-Person Test
Control of Atmospheric Composition
   
1. Full light, CO2 injected to maintain [CO2] setpoint
2. Light dimmed to maintain [CO2] setpoint
3 No automated control; light at intermediate.       
setpoint; CO2 limited to crew member respiration
90
100
) Exercise
40
50
60
70
80
C
a
r
b
o
n
 
D
i
o
x
i
d
e
 
(
g
/
h
r
Activity Level 
when Awake
242220181614121086420
0
10
20
30
Hours
R
e
s
p
i
r
e
d
 
C
Sleep
Test Subject Metabolic Profile
LMLSTP Phase I Test Results
Daily Removal of Carbon Dioxide from Cabin Atmosphere
Daily removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the wheat crop 
over its life cycle
2.0
2.5
Test Subject Respiration
m
i
l
a
t
i
o
n
 
Source of Carbon Dioxide 
1.5
Supplemental CO2
x
i
d
e
 
A
s
s
i
m
s
 
(
k
g
/
d
a
y
)
1.0
a
r
b
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n
 
D
i
o
x
b
y
 
P
l
a
n
t
s
0.0
0.5
C
a
8
6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68
Days from seeding
LMLSTP Phase I Test Results 
Oxygen Concentration in the Cabin Atmosphere
• During the first control period, O2 production by the wheat exceeded 
the crew member’s respiration requirement. Physicochemical (P/C) 
systems were used to remove excess O2 and maintained 
i b l i i l l lconcentrat ons e ow a cr t ca  eve .
• During the 2nd and 3rd control periods, net photosynthesis (PSn) was 
matched to the crew member’s CO2 output and cabin [O2] slowly fell. 
22
i
o
n
 
(
%
)
Net Photosynthetic Rate Matched
to Crew Respiration
(carbon dioxide removal requirement)
Maximum Rate of PSn
(human requirements 
were exceeded)
21
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
    
20
x
y
g
e
n
 
C
o
9
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Day of Human Test
O
x
LMLSTP Phase I Test Results 
Ethylene Concentration in the Cabin Atmosphere
10
LMLSTP Phase I Test Results 
Evapotranspiration
35
40
25
30
m
-
2
d
-
1
)
15-day
Human
Test
15
20
p
i
r
a
t
i
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n
 
(
L
 
5
10
Side A
Side B
v
a
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p
7065605550454035302520151050
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E
v
11
Days from seeding
LMLSTP Phase III: Overview
4 b f 91 d•  crew mem ers or  ays
• Demonstrated an integration of advanced 
regenerative biological and physicochemical 
(P/C) technologies for life support    .
• Two chamber facilities were interconnected
• Air revitalization System
– Higher plants compliment P/C systems
• Water Recovery System
– Microbial cell bioreactors were used for 
the primary treatment step
• Food System
– The stored food system was 
supplemented with wheat grain 
for bread and fresh lettuce     
grown in situ
• Waste Management System 
(Demonstrations)
I i i f h f
12
– nc nerat on o  uman eces
– Biodegradation of plant 
inedible materials
Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project
Phase III, 4-person, 91-day Test
4BMSCHx
Lunar 
Heat Pump 
Chilled
Water
CO2
Ai
Growth Chamber
Life Support Systems Integration Facility
CO2
Storage
Water Save
CO2 Removal
Air CO2
CO2
CH4Air
CO2
CO2
Bottles
Hydroponic
System
r C
om
p
CO2
Potable
H2O
CRS
H20
 
O2
H2O
H2 H2
B
ottles
H2OAir
Oxygen
ConcentratorAirCHxCondensate
Air
O2O2
Bottles
Excess DS
OGS
Incinerator
O2
O2
TCCSGermination
Air
Condensate
Manual
Transfer
Donor Urine
Bioreactor Vent
H2O
Salad
I H
2O
Supply
Wheat Manual 
Transfer
VCD VA Backup
Waste
Tank
Urine
Pretreat
PWS
Feces Manual Transfer
Backup Urine
Incinerator
Condensate
Machine
DI H2O
Supply
VRA
M
F
a
l Mili-Q
Air Evap
Potable H2O
Water Manual Transfer
U
r
i
n
e
W
a
s
t
e
 
W
a
t
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r
Recovered Water M
C
V
&
 Filter VRA
Feed
13
Bio
Feed
IC
B
RO
A
m
m
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i
a
R
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o
v
a TFBRO
Prod
Bio
Prod
Waste Water
RecyclePost Process
Bio Air
LMLSTP Phase III: Growth Chamber Configuration
The 11 2 m2 growth chamber was divided into 2 sides A and B each with a .        ,   ,    
separate hydroponic system.
• Side A: standard hydroponic nutrient solution formula
• Side B: nutrients derived from inedible biomass 
Each side had 4 growing zones.  After the chamber was fully planted, wheat was 
harvested and re-planted in a staged, serial fashion, in increments of ¼ of the 
planted area, approximately every 20 days.
A 1 B 3
G r o w in g  Z o n e
P a ir s
A 3 B 1
A 2 A 4 B 2 B 4
S t a n d a rd
N u t r ie n t  S a l t s
R e c y c l e d
N u t r ie n t  S a l t s
S o u r c e  o f  S a l t s  f o r
H y d r o p o n i c  S y s t e m
LMLSTP Phase III: 
Predicted atmosphere revitalization with batch cropping
1 5
2
2.5
i
z
a
t
i
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D
a
y
)
A1B3
A2B4
A3B1
Phase I Test
0.5
1
.
A
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a
l
(
P
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p
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r
 
D
A4B2
Total
0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
Day of Test
A
A4B2
A3B1
A2B4
83
83
83
83
83
83
Atmosphere revitalization predicted from CO2 assimilation from “Apogee” Wheat 
A1B3 83 83
grown at a PAR level of 1500 m-2 s-1 and a 24 hr photoperiod, given that all four 
quarters of the growth chamber were planted and harvested sequentially at the 
same time.
LMLSTP Phase III: 
Predicted atmosphere revitalization with staged cropping
1.5
2
z
a
t
i
o
n
 
a
y
)
A1B3
A2B4
A3B1
0.5
1
A
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R
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v
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t
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l
i
z
(
P
E
 
p
e
r
 
D
A4B2
Total
0
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200
Day of Test
A
A4B2
A3B1
18
38
83
83
83
83
A2B4
A1B3
58
82
8383
83
Atmosphere revitalization predicted from CO2 assimilation from “Apogee” Wheat 
grown at a PAR level of 1500 m-2 s-1 and a 24 hr photoperiod
LMLSTP Phase III: 
Waste Management System Demonstrations
Bi l i l D d ti f I diblo og ca  egra a on o  ne e 
Biomass and Recovery of Nutrient Salts 
• ½ of the wheat’s inedible biomass was 
mineralized using a stirred tank aerobic      
bioreactor. 
• Recovered nutrient salts were returned 
to the plant growth systems. 
• Average degradation of total solids: 45% 
( ≈ 26 kg biomass was treated)
• Average salt recovery: 80%   .
Incineration of Human Feces and 
Recovery of Carbon Dioxide   
• Human feces (8.2 kg total) were 
incinerated in a fluidized bed incinerator.
• Carbon dioxide exhaust was injected     
into the wheat chamber after treatment 
for trace contaminants
LMLSTP Phase III Results: 
Actual Air Revitalization (CO2 Removal) vs Predicted
2 
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
v
i
t
a
l
i
z
a
t
i
o
n
O
2
p
e
r
 
D
a
y
)
Predicted
Actual
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
A
i
r
 
R
e
v
(
k
g
 
C
O
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
Day of test
Actual Planting 
and Harvesting 
Schedule 
Performed
Test Deviations & Anomolies
• To reduce test costs, the last quarter of chamber (A2B4) was not replanted
• Crop nutrient management was inadequate
– the first crops planted took up excessive amounts of K & P           
– this resulted in nutrient deficiency stress in later crops, with secondary affects on 
growth, yield and resistance to disease organisms
– an opportunistic Fusarium infection was observed in stressed plants
LMLSTP Phase III Results: 
Wheat Yield
Yield By Staged Crop   
1 2
1 4
1 6
(
k
g
)
G ra in
In e d ib le
4
6
8
1 0
r
y
 
B
i
o
m
a
s
s
 
0
2
2
3
/
9
7
2
3
/
9
7
2
3
/
9
7
2
3
/
9
7
/
7
/
9
7
2
7
/
9
7
1
6
/
9
7
/
2
/
9
7
/
7
/
9
7
2
1
/
9
7
D
r
1 8 8 08 18 28 63 97 87 95 83 8
Mean Grain YieldYield By Nutrient Source
7
/
2
7
/
2
7
/
2
7
/
2
8
8
/
2
9
/
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
/
2
D a te  S e e d e dW h ite  n u m b e rs  in  b a rs :  A g e  a t  h a rv e s t
  
(kg) (kg m-2) Harvest Index
Side A (Pure Salts) 10.48 1.87 36.5
Side B (Biologically Recovered Salts) 11.4 2.03 38.8
   
Total Chamber 21.88 1.95 37.7
Harvested grain was introduced into the Human Chamber to make 
bread.  Fresh bread was baked every 5 days.
LMLSTP Phase III Results: Lettuce Production System
• Lettuce was grown in a small growth 
chamber located within the crew living 
space.
• The chamber contained a 0.22 m2
growing area illuminated with light 
emitting diodes (LEDs) providing 189 
mol s-1 m-2 photosynthetic photon flux  .
• Sequentially planted every 11 days, 
with 8 harvests during the 91 day-test, 4 
plants per harvest  
• Average shoot fresh mass per plant 
was 157 g (5.5 oz) at an average of 31.5 
days from seeding  
• Average Harvest Index
69%  Amount Consumed/Total
83% Shoot/Total  
• Average daily rate of make-up water 
use was 3.18 L m-2 d-1 for 64.5 total liters
Prime Farmland?


The Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project

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