BIOS-3

BIOS-3 is a closed ecosystem at the Institute of Biophysics in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Its construction began in 1965, and was completed in 1972. BIOS-3 consists of a 315 m3 underground steel structure[1] suitable for up to three persons, and was initially used for developing closed ecosystems capable of supporting humans. It was divided into 4 compartments — one of which is a crew area.[2] The crew area consists of 3 single-cabins, a galley, lavatory and control room.[3] Initially one other compartment was an algal cultivator, and the other two 'phytrons' for growing wheat or vegetables. The plants growing in the two 'phytrons' contributed approximately 25% of the air filtering in the compound.[4] Later the algal cultivator was converted into a third phytron. A level of light comparable to sunlight was supplied in each of the 4 compartments by 20 kW xenon lamps, cooled by water jackets. The facility used 400 kW of electricity, supplied by a nearby hydroelectric power station.

Chlorella algae were used to recycle air breathed by humans, absorbing carbon dioxide and replenishing it with oxygen through photosynthesis. The algae were cultivated in stacked tanks under artificial light. To achieve a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide, one human needed 8 m2 of exposed Chlorella. Air was purified of more complex organic compounds by heating to 600 °C in the presence of a catalyst. Water and nutrients were stored in advance and were also recycled. By 1968, system efficiency had reached 85% by recycling water.[4] Dried meat was imported into the facility, and urine and feces were generally dried and stored, rather than being recycled.

BIOS-3 facilities were used to conduct 10 manned closure experiments with a one to three man crew. The longest experiment with a three-man crew lasted 180 days (in 1972-1973). The facilities were used for the tests at least until 1984.[5]

In 1991, BIOS-3 became a part of the International Center for Closed Ecosystems, which was formed as a subdivision of Institute of Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch. Closed ecosystems research focusing on growing plants and recycling waste was resumed in 2005 in cooperation with European Space Agency.

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References

  1. ↑ Alling, Abigail; Leigh, Linda S.; MacCallum, Taber; Alvarez-Romo, Norberto (1990). "Biosphere 2 test module experimentation program". Biological Life Support Technologies: Commercial Opportunities: 23. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Prado, Mark (2002). "Russian CELSS Studies". PERMANENT Project. Archived from the original on 5 May 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2006.
  3. ↑ Gitelson, I.I.; Terskov, I.A.; Kovrov, B.G.; Lisovskii, G.M.; Okladnikov, Yu.N.; Sid'ko, F.Ya.; Trubachev, I.N.; Shilenko, M.P.; Alekseev, S.S.; Pan'kova, I.M.; Tirranen, L.S. (January 1989). "Long-term experiments on man's stay in biological life-support system" (PDF). Advances in Space Research. 9 (8): 62. doi:10.1016/0273-1177(89)90030-6. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 Salisbury, Frank B.; Gitelson, Josef I.; Lisovsky, Genry M. (Oct 1997). "Bios-3: Siberian Experiments in Bioregenerative Life Support" (PDF). BioScience. 47 (9): 575–585. doi:10.2307/1313164. PMID 11540303. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Dreaming of Mars, part 1". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
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