Speaker
Description
In future long-term manned missions, the ability to provide fresh food to crew members will be crucial for minimizing resupply from Earth. The consumption of fresh plant food, rich in nutraceutical compounds, will also be a potential countermeasure for the detrimental psychophysical effects of the space environment.
In this context, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) has activated a technology development program for a plant food production facility, commissioning to Thales Alenia Space Italia the design of the MICROx2 greenhouse system. Taking into consideration the resource limitation on future long-term missions beyond Low Earth Orbit, MICROx2 aims to achieve efficient crop production within a human-rated, pressurized habitat. Key technological components will include an autonomous hydroponic cultivation system, LED-based lighting solutions customized for microgreens, and a sophisticated environmental control system to manage temperature, humidity, VOCs, and CO₂ levels inside the greenhouse module.
The MICROx2 system will be calibrated for efficient microgreen production aimed at optimizing target micronutrients content. Microgreens represent the developmental stage with higher antioxidants and vitamins level, they are crops with a short production cycle and low resource needs. Microgreens are therefore an ideal solution to support astronaut nutrition and sustainability during extended missions.
The MICROx2 greenhouse will enable the study of plant growth under altered gravity and high radiation conditions and the test of plant production capabilities, with a focus on resource optimization through controlled environment agriculture. This contribution will provide an overview of the project’s objectives, current progress, and high-level technical challenges, outlining the roadmap toward sustainable space agriculture.