Life on Mars: Algae Cultivation For Long-Term Food and Oxygen Production

Human exploration of Mars will require significant supplies of both oxygen and food. The ability to grow photosynthetic organisms on Mars would potentially contribute significantly to both of these needs. We here propose to grow algae adapted to extreme terrestrial conditions, as well as edible algae, under a series of conditions relevant to Mars. Snow algae grow very well in challenging high UV, low temperature, and low nutrient snow environments. We have grown these organisms under low-nutrient conditions, and we propose to expand upon our previous work to grow snow algae under a range of pressures, atmospheric conditions, temperatures, amounts of water and light, and nutrient sources, to determine the suitability of these organisms as potential oxygen sources on Mars. We will similarly grow edible algae species under the same conditions to examine the potential for algae to provide both nutrients and oxygen. In order to complete this work, we will collaborate with NASA Scientist Dr. Doug Ming, who has extensive experience in Life Support, and Dr. James Raymond, who is a snow algae expert. The proposed work has been discussed with Dr. Warren Ruemmele, and will fill important knowledge gaps in the production of oxygen and nutrients on Mars.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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