The experiments

Spirulina as a food solution for astronauts - Maximilien

An astronaut eats one kilogram of food, breathes one kilogram of oxygen and drinks three liters of water. Astronauts also produce waste, mainly water. During long-term space mission, it is impossible to carry as much food and water for reasons of costs and logistics. Let’s recycle! The MELiSSA project (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) focuses on means to enable long-term space missions. Using microorganisms such as Spirulina, bioreactors transform organic and non-organic waste into water, food and oxygen. Twenty-five years ago, the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK•CEN) was at the base of the MELiSSA project. The European Space Agency (ESA) is now coordinating this large and international project. SCK•CEN studies the evolution of bacteria under the influence of radiations and weightlessness. In December 2017, the SPACEX-13 rocket took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). On board was the very first photobioreactor containing Spirulina, developed by SCK•CEN in collaboration with ESA and the scientific consortium MELiSSA. During the UCL to Mars 2018 mission, researchers will study Spirulina in extreme conditions, at the Mars Desert Research Station. This cyanobacterium, intended to be used as a dietary supplement by astronauts, could have therapeutic properties on intestinal flora damaged by stress.

Operation scheduling on MDRS under uncertainty: comparing classical and robust models - Michael

We will consider the problem of scheduling a set of (experimental and logistic) operations in a constrained context such as the MDRS. When taking uncertainty into account while designing models, a robust solution that minimizes the probability of failure in the mission global objectives can be obtained.

Based on real-life operations at MDRS, we will investigate different mathematical formulations for both deterministic and robust stochastic modeling of the problem, the latter taking uncertainty into account. To solve the deterministic problem, optimal and heuristic algorithms will be designed. Our principal goal is to show how the latter can be modified to take stochasticity into account while maximizing the probability of mission completion. Finally, computational experimentations will compare both approaches and highlight good practices for the benefit of future operation planning on Mars and in similar environments.

The effect of hydrogel on the plant’s growth in the GreenHab - Frederic

In the next long-duration exploration, plant systems will become essential components: the farther and longer humans go away from Earth, the greater the need to be able to grow plants for food and atmosphere recycling. Thus, we need robust and innovative plant systems which work environments and with limited equipment, space, water and suitable media for plant growth. Our MDRS mission aims at furthering already existing research, and we propose to study the effect of hydrogels on the plants’ growth. Hydrogels are polymers absorbing large quantities of water and fixing seedling roots. Thus, they can considerably reduce plants’ stress water loss and improve their growth and survival. Hydrogels will be tested in the context of reduced irrigation and using local soil powder, generally considered as less suitable for plant growth. Hydrogels could provide robust and innovative equipment to set up a Greenhouse, enhancing growth and quality and/or allowing the use of in situ loam from Martian soil powder to support good plant growth.

Development of a telescope for cosmic muon flux and density measurements - Sophie

This project is based on the building of a compact telescope based on small and gastight Glass Resistive Gas Chambers (”minigRPC”) and is aimed at performing a feasibility study of possible research on Mars geology. The first part of the project will be a simulation optimizing parameters for the detector conception. The second part will be the construction of a miniRPC prototype with the ideal parameters taken from simulation, on which some tests will be performed. The third part will consist of the collection of in-field data at the MDRS, and its analysis. The goal will then be to make a study of the muon flux generated by interactions of primary cosmic rays and, if time allows, to proceed to a radiography or tomography (3D) of the landscape (mountains, hills, etc.) of the Utah desert with ”muography. This technique is very interesting for planets exploration because, for example, we could radiograph Mars and characterize its interior and talk about the planet’s evolutionary state and history as well as even finding some places geologically well-adapted places for future colony implantation.

Construction of a vertical NFT hydroponics system in the MDRS - Mario

A steady supply of food for the astronauts is one of the most fundamental requirements for any autonomous long-term space mission, such as an expedition to Mars. That food will almost exclusively be supplied by plants grown hydroponically in very tightly packed greenhouses, with very high exposure to different risk factors. It is therefore essential to evaluate how such a system evolves with and reacts to different stress stimuli, by testing it on Earth before departure.

This experiment has two goals : firstly, the system, in the form of a vertical tower, will be built from the most basic materials available, emulating the processs Martian astronauts would have to go through in case of a systems failure in which they would have to rebuild their food supply in restricted space and with restricted materials. Secondly, we will simulate the effects of extreme temperature variations, such as those which could potentially be encountered in a Martian setting, on different factors including plant growth, presence of pests,and nutrient degradation. This research will allow us to deepen our understanding of growth dynamics in the particular environment that is a space station, and enhance the chances of success for future missions.

 Study of drug degradation at Mars Desert Research Station - Martin

Medications degrade over time. Degradation of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) can result in reduced drug potency and increased toxicity due to the formation of degradation products. This degradation is accelerated by suboptimal storage conditions, as well as by some environmental factors of a Mars expedition such as microgravity, temperature variations and radiation, which may catalyze these drug alterations.

With an expected duration of 6 to 7 months, a journey to Mars will most likely expose drugs to significant risk. It is then of paramount importance to study these risks and the accelerated degradation they provoke. A better understanding of this phenomenon will help to elaborate a specially designed space-grade packaging to ensure safety of acute and prolonged treatments to astronauts. During our mission we will study the degradation of a series of active pharmaceutical ingredients over time. We will quantify these molecules both in pure form and in tablets using UV-Vis spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy.

Martian bread : fermentation based on bacteria from human microbiota - Ariane

The Apollo 11 mission brought the first humans on the moon and back in 8 days 3 hours and 19 minutes. An inhabited mission to Mars will take years – the one-way trip is estimated at 6 months at the shortest. The organization of such a journey requires spectacular scientific and technological skills, including the transport of hundreds of tons of material and resources. The solution? A completely autonomous station including food level. We’ll try to elucidate that point with this experiment dedicated to the making of Martian bread, more precisely a sourdough bread from ingredients directly produced in the station. The question of flour production, and thus cereal planting, is raised by our botanist Mario Sundic. The water, already present on the red planet in the form of ice, can be harvested and purified in consumable water. We will then attempt to produce bread through fermentation based on Lactobacillus isolated from our oral mucosa, and through fermentation with baking soda. If the experiment is successful, the only remaining issues will be the manufacturing of salt, and the high-temperature cooking of the bread…

Cartography with drones & MDRS drone monitoring - Bastien

The project involves the use of a drone in the field of geomatics for a mission at the MDRS. Establishing detailed and interactive mapping of the environment close to the station is a relevant objective. Indeed, carrying out efficient and secure missions is only made possible by studying the relief, the gradients and the zones of interest of the surface of Mars. The combined use of drone imaging and satellite imagery provides a complete mapping. This data will be processed digitally to obtain a complete map of the area surrounding the MDRS.

The crew engineer function could be made more efficient by using drones. The crew engineer is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the research station, and his/her function could be made more efficient by using drone. The objective of the project is to evaluate the utility of drones to access inaccessible areas and to take photographs to ensure the integrity of the base. We will analyze the feasibility of such a project in the difficult conditions of a space mission on Mars.

Analysis of soil chemical composition - Maximilien

Bringing human life on a mission will be the first step of the Mars odyssey. Bringing humans to Mars is already a challenge, but keeping them alive is another one, and a much more complex one. To reach this objective, the humans who will live on the Red Planet will have to produce their own food most certainly by agriculture. Unfortunately, Martian soil is completely different from Earth’s and the agriculture areas must be carefully chosen to avoid wasting seeds in a plantation doomed to death because of bad soil. This is why we propose to measure nitrogen, phosphorus and boron concentration to make sure that soil contains the required elements for growing crops. Nevertheless, physiochemical parameters are also highly decisive. To have better control of crop life and soil viability we will measure soil pH (acidity), but also soil electrical conductivity, which is related to ions concentration of various elements. By measuring all these parameters, we will provide strong knowledge of Mars soil composition which will facilitate agriculture on Martian soil.

Biocompatibility of the simulated Martian environment for Terrestrial organism- Frederic

Future long-duration space missions raise a lot of challenging questions. Can terrestrial organisms survive in a Mars environment, and what are the physical and chemical limits for Life? Biocompatibility of the Martian environment for terrestrial organisms is of particular interest for Astrobiology and space exploration.

In that sense, we propose to study adaptation and survival strategies of microorganisms in a simulated Martian environment. This will imply the study of the ability of bacteria to produce and maintain spores and their mechanisms of adaptation to those unfavorable environments. This experiment could allow for the collection of precious information for biocompatibility of the Martian environment for Terrestrial organisms, establish a model for those studies, and figure out the probabilities and limitations for life to be distributed among planets of Solar System.

Impact of a Martian lifestyle on memory and reflexes - Martin

On Mars, several factors may have consequences on our organism such as the confinement, the change of scenery and the energy consumption spikes due to additional activity. These factors can induce fatigue and lead to decreased attention and memory performance, and increased reaction time. Being 225 million kilometers away from Earth, the crew will be on its own if something happens in the base. It is therefore very important to closely monitor the astronauts’ physical condition during the whole expedition to Mars, which will probably last a couple of years. This is why we will then monitor the impact of this Martian lifestyle on memory and reflexes during our mission.