Biosphere 3

Biotechnology - High Tech High
Regional Occupational Program

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Student Projects - Biosphere 3
The creation of a space farm.

The objective of this lab design is to support NASA's interest in long-term, manned flight and potential colonization of the moon and planets. Plants can be an important part of bioregenerative life support systems in which food is produced and human waste recycled. To this end NASA is supporting the development of experimental equipment designed to grow plants on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. At the same time that engineers are designing equipment for plant growth, it may be possible to develop animal rearing techniques to produce alternative food sources in space. The ideal farm in space would be designed as a closed system.

(above) Adult brine shrimp (Artemia) to be used for Biosphere 3. BIOREGENERATIVE LIFE SUPPORT
Phytoplankton ====>oxygen + food =====> Brine Shrimp
(Dunaliella salina) <==carbon dioxide + ammonia<==(Artemia sp.)

Materials and Methods

(left ) 30 ml tube with 2 Artemia and concentrated algae.

1. Determination of Artemia and Dunaliella balance:
Use literature information to find the appropriate amount of artemia to add to support the growth of Artemia (brine shrimp). Ideally the oxygen production by the algae to support the oxygen needs of the Artemia.
A. Artemia (adult, 5-day old) metabolic rate: 221 pmol oxygen/individual *h
B. Dunaliella salina photosynthetic rate: 10 umol oxygen/ 10^7 cells * h

2. Select male and female (brooding) Artemia.
3. Bring tube volume to 30 ml and seal lid with wax (closed system).

4. Monitor growth and viability of Artemia and Dunaliella.

Results

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		Student Projects - Biosphere 3 The creation of a space farm.			BACK TO STUDENT PROJECTS PAGE


				(left ) 30 ml tube with 2 Artemia and concentrated algae.
		1. Determination of Artemia and Dunaliella balance: Use literature information to find the appropriate amount of artemia to add to support the growth of Artemia (brine shrimp). Ideally the oxygen production by the algae to support the oxygen needs of the Artemia. A. Artemia (adult, 5-day old) metabolic rate: 221 pmol oxygen/individual h B. Dunaliella salina photosynthetic rate: 10 umol oxygen/ 10^7 cells h 2. Select male and female (brooding) Artemia. 3. Bring tube volume to 30 ml and seal lid with wax (closed system). 4. Monitor growth and viability of Artemia and Dunaliella.