Overview of MELiSSA project. Space Research and Terrestrial applications
Abstract
Seeded in 1987 with a precursor flight experiment on board the Chinese rocket longue Marche, conceptualized and published in October 1988, and initiated in March 1989, the European project of regenerative life support is called MELiSSA: Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative. The key challenge of MELiSSA is: how to select, to assemble and to demonstrate processes and technologies to reach the highest degree of closure within the ALISSE criteria set : Mass, Energy, Efficiency, Safety, Reliability and Crew Time. Mainly due to these final objectives, the overall project is structured in a very progressive approach organized in five phases : Within Phase 1, Basic R&D, the processes and technologies, generally at low TRL are characterize a stoichiometry's level, energy and safety, then static and dynamics models are elaborated for an integration in the overall system. After this intensive characterization, within phase 2 called: Preliminary Flight experiments, the critical space issues are identified (e.g. reduced gravity, multi-phases processes, radiations,.. ) and propose for flight experiment, generally in LEO. So far, the main part of the flight s experiments were done via International competition of the ILSRA ISS. From this already solid information the selected processes and technologies are integrated and demonstrated over a long period and with a living consumer, human but potentially animals too. The core of this activity is performed at the MELiSSA Pilot plant in Spain. In parallel, of these 3 phases run as well the Phase 4 : Technology transfer, where already 3 spin-off company have been created. Initiated to transfer space technology to Earth, this phase is becoming more and more a platform of collaboration for join R&D efforts with terrestrial industry (e.g . circular economy). Phase 5, which has taken a reasonable amplitude over the last years: Education and Communication is led by the MELiSSA foundation and support Students and STEM activity ( e.g. AstroPlants).
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E2016L