BIOMASS PRODUCTION SYSTEM (BPS)
Research Area: Plant Biology
Expedition(s): 4
Principal Investigator(s): ● Robert C. Morrow, PhD, Orbital Technologies Corporation,
Madison, Wisconsin
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Biomass Production System (BPS) environmental control subsystems provide a complete
growing environment for plants in microgravity. Results can lead to the development of
regenerative life support systems on future exploration missions to the moon or Mars.
EARTH BENEFITS
As less fertile land becomes available to
grow food, alternative agricultural
systems that efficiently produce greater
quantities of high-quality crops are
increasingly important. Data from the
operation of the BPS can advance
greenhouse and controlled-environment
agricultural systems and help farmers
produce better, healthier crops in a
small space using the optimum amount
of nutrients.SPACE BENEFITS
The amount of food necessary to sustain
a crew during a long-duration mission to
Mars would prohibitively increase the mass of spacecraft and the overall cost of the mission.
Some of the crew's food would need to come from a selection of renewable crops grown in
biomass production systems. The biomass production systems
may also be used as a filtration system for water and
atmospheric gases. Plant growth chambers would also offer a
comforting, green reminder of Earth to a crew a long way from
home.
RESULTS
Thirty-two germinating Brassica rapa plants were launched
inside the BPS for the TVT of the hardware. The Brassica rapa
plants were grown over 2 growth cycles on International Space
Station (ISS). Brassica rapa tissue from BPS was analyzed for
general morphology, seed anatomy and storage reserves, foliar
carbohydrates, and chlorophyll and root zone hypoxia analysis.
Some of the wheat plantings were evaluated for growth,
germination, weight, chlorophyll concentration and root
ISS004E11721 – View of Brassica plants from plant growth
chamber 2 being harvested as part of the technical validation
test of the Biomass Production System conducted during
International Space Station Expedition 4.
Video screen shot of Brassica
rapa, 36 days after planting on
International Space Station
during Increment 4. NASA
image.