As part of the overall design strategy for SAM’s life support system architecture, the SAM team is looking at developing a hybrid solution that incorporates both physicochemical (mechanical + chemical) elements along side bioregenerative (plant-based) elements. The team is working on developing all these elements simultaneously to ensure they are designed to interface effectively. Luna and Sean have been hard at work focused on the bioregenerative side of this critical part of the SAM architecture.
On April 22-25 of this year, the team met with a research group from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) with a research focus on the use of algae cultivation for the support human space travel. The team consisted of Gisela Detrell, Lina Salman, and Sergio Santaeufemia Sánchez. Through the TUM team’s hard work, they secured the support of their university to meet with the SAM team in person and explore how our research could overlap to be mutually beneficial. As part of this discussion, the TUM team flew out to Tucson to see SAM and Biosphere 2 in person.
The workshop occurred over 4 days, providing ample time to share what we were working on and to see how we overlap each other.
During day 1 of our workshop, Sean took the TUM team on a briefn tour of the U of A main campus and had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Joel Cuello who also researches in the field of the application of algae to supporting human space travel. The discussion lead to some exciting insights and possibilities for future collaboration. The second day the team was hosted at the B2 campus and the TUM team shared about the wide variety of research projects they are working on including photobioreactor (PBR) design and modeling, student and public workshops focused on human space travel, and how SAM could incorporate at PBR into its design. A photobioreactor is a system that provides the light an nutrients needed to cultivate an algal culture.
Day 3 of the workshop was tour day where the team was taken on a private tour of the Biosphere 2 facility and SAM. This was extra special for the TUM team as they teach about the history of Biosphere 2 in some of their classes. With this being the first opportunity any of them had to visit in person, they got the full experience and will now be able to speak from personal experience in their lectures! The SAM tour focused primarily on the habitat facility as the Mars Yard wall build was occurring simultaneously. Dr. Cuello also joined for the tour of SAM and was excited to see the facility in person for the first time as well. The fourth and final day of the algae workshop was an opportunity to discuss how we move forward as a team and the actions we can take to explore how we can continue to work together moving into the future. We are excited to continue to explore with and learn from the TUM team especially to eventually see the integration of a photobioreactor within the SAM habitat!
Overall, the visit to Tucson was a very productive discussion and we are all excited about the possibilities the future holds for our teams to continue to work together. Luna and Sean will be headed to Germany to see the the TUM facilities in December and are excited to continue exploring synergistic working possibilities for our teams!
