Hierarchical Control of Space Closed Ecosystems – Expanding Microgrid Concepts to Bioastronautics

One of the main challenges of human space exploration is the development of artificial ecosystems, which can be used as Life Support Systems (LSSs) to enable long duration human space missions. In an open LSS, no food generation or waste treatment is provided in space and supply from earth is necessary. According to Fig. 1, considering the approximate metabolic consumables and hygiene water, as well as the number of crewmembers [1], a huge mass would be required to be transported from earth, which brings the necessity of a regenerative or closed LSS [2], [3], [4]. Closed ecological systems (CESs) are ecosystems without any matter exchange with outside environment [2]. The most advanced human-made CESs include ALSSTB , Biosphere 2 , BIOS 3 (no longer operative), CEEF complex , MELiSSA Pilot Plant (MPP) , and Concordia Antarctica Station, which are different from one to another with respect to their complexity, size, and degree of closure [2]. CESs are necessary for long-term manned space missions, which aims minimizing support from Earth. They are composed of several specific compartments that together reproduce the main functionalities of an ecological system in continuous mode of operation and under controlled conditions.