Microalgae

As part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of India’s astronauts, will conduct advanced food and nutrition-related experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS). These experiments are the result of a collaboration between ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA, aiming to support future long-duration space missions.

• The first ISS experiment will examine the impact of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae

Key Features of Microalgae

• They are high-potential, nutrient-rich food source. Microalgae grow rapidly, produce high-protein biomass, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen—making them perfect candidates for sustainable space nutrition and closed-loop life support systems.
• Some species can grow in as little as 26 hours, and when cultivated in photobioreactors, they produce more biomass per unit volume than traditional crops—crucial for space missions with tight space and resource constraints.
• Microalgae contain chlorophyll A and are capable of photosynthesis. Their high photosynthetic efficiency enables them to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen effectively, contributing to air revitalization in closed environments like spacecraft.
• Microalgae can generate a higher biomass yield in photobioreactors compared to traditional plants, making them a more efficient and space-saving option for producing food and oxygen during long-duration space missions.

(Source: PIB)