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Space bioprocess engineering as a potential catalyst for sustainability

Nature Sustainability volume 7, pages 238–246 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Investment in spacefaring enterprises must offer transformative solutions to Earth-based challenges. Providing for the future health of our home planet is possibly the greatest return on investment. Therefore, ensuring that the large costs of astronautics also yield benefits on Earth is critical. The goal of space bioprocess engineering is the design, realization and management of biologically driven technologies for supporting off-world human exploration. Here, we outline several technologies with high dual-use potential, argue that continued investment in such technologies is justified, and offer insight into specific research and development strategies that will increase sociological, political and technological benefits for sustainable development on Earth.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NASA under award numbers NNX17AJ31G and 80NSSC22K1474. Any conclusions, recommendations, or opinions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA. The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. We thank D. Ho for graphics used in Table 1. Furthermore, we thank J. King, D. Hall, S. N. Nangle, B. Biggs, J. A. Hogan and A. J. Abel for their constructive comments on early drafts of this manuscript. We thank Professor A. P. Arkin for his continued patience in reviewing and re-reviewing the manuscript and for his watchful eye over our efforts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA

    Gretchen Vengerova, Isaac Lipsky, Gwyneth A. Hutchinson, Nils J. H. Averesch & Aaron J. Berliner

  2. Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Gretchen Vengerova, Isaac Lipsky, Gwyneth A. Hutchinson & Aaron J. Berliner

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Nils J. H. Averesch

  4. Program in Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Aaron J. Berliner

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All authors (G.V., I.L., G.A.H., N.J.H.A. and A.J.B.) developed, wrote and edited the manuscript, led by A.J.B.

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Correspondence to Nils J. H. Averesch or Aaron J. Berliner.

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Supplementary Discussion (describing examples of technologies with aspects of SBE), Tables 1 and 2 and refs. 1–58.

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Vengerova, G., Lipsky, I., Hutchinson, G.A. et al. Space bioprocess engineering as a potential catalyst for sustainability. Nat Sustain 7, 238–246 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01305-x

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