BLiSS+Diagram

Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLiSS)

How can features of BioBLAST be integrated into Moon World?

What kind of questions does the learner ask in the BioBLAST learning environment?

BioBLAST (Biology-based Better Learning through Adventure, Simulations, and Telecommunications) is a biology-education curriculum supplement that includes four computer-based simulations based on NASA advanced life support research. Using student-friendly graphical interfaces, students explore, test, and evaluate designs for a plant-based life support system that could support a human crew on a lunar or remote planet habitat.

Initially students investigate the three primary components of the biotech challenge: What are the mathematical inputs and outputs of plants, human, and resource recycling systems that must be integrated and balanced to create a closed biological system that can function regeneratively for years?

Ultimately, the simulation investigations using NASA data within the three primary simulators will help students identify the critical factors that will determine the scale required to support the human crew, blend of crops, and recycling time and tanks. Using the mathematically-based simulation tools, students can quickly set up and run a design model to identify the quantitative parameters that they will apply to the integrate life support system.

Here are examples of the kind of questions that students explore using the plant growth system simulation: 1. How much water does a square meter of wheat (vs. potato, lettuce, or soy, or a combination of these plants) produce from seed to seed of the plant growth cycle? 2. How much oxygen does a square meter of wheat (vs. potato, lettuce, or soy, or a combination of these plants) produce from seed to seed of the plant growth cycle? 3. How much edible vs. inedible biomass a square meter of wheat (vs. potato, lettuce, or soy, or a combination of these plants) produce from seed to seed of the plant growth cycle? 4. How much CO2, Oxygen, nutrients, light, and water does a square meter of wheat (vs. potato, lettuce, or soy, or a combination of these plants) require from seed to seed of the plant growth cycle? 5. Which of these factors water, oxygen, or edible biomass requires the most input to support the output (quantity) required to support human life?

Using each of the three component-level simulators, students identify the critical factor that must be met for to support a human crew. Once each component-level critical factor is identified, students are ready to design their integrated system. The biological engine that is central to the plant-based closed system design is the relationship between photosynthesis and respiration—the fundamental engine that allows life on Earth.

The summary equation for the process of photosynthesis, 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy 􀂼 C6H12O6 + 6O2, when reversed, yields the summary equation for cellular respiration, C6H12O6 + 6O2 􀂼 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.

Each of the three component simulators as well as the integrated system simulator is designed to provide a high level of interactivity and immediate feedback. The visualization of data through dynamic graphs and numeric output of critical factors allows students to quickly assess and review the inputs and outputs and areas of success of their model and where potential problems exist. Students can then easily redesign their model of inputs and outputs for each component and within seconds assess the reconfigured design.

How can these simulations be incorporated into Moon World? Here are a few suggestions.

Initially, create interactive objects in which participants are asked rather simple questions such as: • What could you bring from Earth to create a biological life system on the Moon? [Answer: plants] (link to image/s, data visualization, and short video) • What elements for life support do humans get from plants that plants also require? [Oxygen, water, and nutrients] (link to image/s, data visualization, and short video) • What elements for life support could plants get from humans based on a life support system established on the Moon? [CO2, water, nutrients] (link to image/s, data visualization, and short video) • Which of these three factors is the most difficult to obtain from plants in the quantity required to support human life: Oxygen, water, food? [food] (link to image/s, data visualization, and short video)

Later, an interface to the Plant Production simulator could be provided which would allow interactive testing of different plant growth designs.