CURRENT AND FUTURE WAYS TO CLOSED LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: VIRTUAL MELISSA CONFERENCE, GHENT (B) (3-5 /11/2020). A REVIEW

Abstract

The 3-days international virtual MELiSSA conference (November 3 to 5, 2020) about the closed life support systems was organized by the University of Ghent and IDDUP in collaboration with ESA/ESTEC (European Space Agency) and MELiSSA Foundation, and welcomed around 150 papers. The first day addressed the welcomed contributions of the 5 major space agencies, the plants & photosynthetic microorganisms used for life support in space, the simulation of planetary ecosystems as well as MELiSSA inspired circular economy and education. The second day focused on Ground demonstration and analogue testing, Photobioreactors and photosynthetic microorganisms characterization, Modelling and Systems design, Organic wastes process and Metabolome where a real breakthrough was observed as well as in human microbiome in closed environments. The last day addressed: 1) the complex problematics of urine as a major source of nutrients, 2) Terrestrial synergies, and 3) some Physical, Chemical and Microbial contaminants linked to space research.