Concept study on the potential extraction of nutrients for algae and plants on the surface of Mars

Abstract

Bio-regenerative life support systems are of major significance to the feasibility of future crewed space exploration missions. Within this thesis, the extraction of elements that can be used as nutrients for organisms used in bio-regenerative life support systems from minerals present on the Martian surface was studied. The organisms were defined as higher plants, green algae, and cyanobacteria due to their inclusion in numerous current concepts. Nutritional needs of these organism were categorized into two groups, macronutrients, and micronutrients. A representative global characterization of the Martian surfaces mineral abundancies was presented. The required nutrients potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, sodium and silicon are all present within mineral abundancies on the Martian surface. Processes to extract these elements were compiled and evaluated for their applicability under the conditions on the Martian surface. An Analytical Hierarchy Process analysis was chosen to conduct the evaluation. The available data of the examined extraction processes did not allow an analysis according to the proposed Analytical Hierarchy process framework. The processes were presented and evaluated in text. Possibilities for extracting the elements required by higher plants, green algae and cyanobacteria used in bio-regenerative life support systems from Martian minerals exist but need to be expanded upon to accommodate the conditions on the Martian surface. Recommendations and considerations for future research and development are discussed.