The Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES) works to develop efficient and sustainable technologies for production of food and biomanufactured pharmaceuticals, nutrients and materials to supported extended crewed missions in space. A NASA science and technology research institute led by UC Berkeley with its partners, UC Davis, Stanford University, Utah State University, and the University of Florida focuses on how to create integrated synthetic biology-enhanced bioprocesses to use in situ resources and mission waste streams to support human life in extreme and logistically remote conditions such as those that characterized a crewed Mars mission. From technologies that remove carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the atmosphere to those that convert these into fertilizers and feedstocks for plant and microbes that then produce mission critical products, CUBES technologies have applications both for clean operation on Mars and for the circular bioeconomy on Earth.
Today's space exploration missions are primarily reliant on transporting resources from Earth, a strategy that is not sustainable for deep space exploration, particularly to destinations like Mars. The inherent limitations, such as the mass, power and volume of payloads, present significant constraints, making the role of biotechnology pivotal to explore the utilization of available resources on Mars for biomanufacturing.
In the realm of space biotechnology, CUBES is driven by themes including:
- In situ Microbial Media Production: Leveraging the regolith and atmospheric resources of Mars for biological applications.
- Mission Product Biomanufacturing: Innovating methodologies to produce mission-essential outputs, such as propellants and building materials, on Mars.
- Food and Pharmaceutical Synthesis: Harnessing the power of plants and microbes to synthesize essential food and medicines for astronauts.
- Space and Complex Systems Engineering: Integrating and optimizing processes from the above themes to establish a sustainable and efficient system.
Moreover, the design, implementation and optimization of an integrated biological system that can operate efficiently in the harsh conditions of Mars and deep space is an overarching goal. It requires meticulous planning, robust system integration and a strategic approach to counteract the challenges posed by the Martian environment.
Academic and Workforce Contributions:
CUBES has substantially contributed to both the academic domain and the enhancement of the workforce in space biotechnology. The initiative has fostered the development of over 80 publications, collectively cited more than 700 times, exhibiting a significant impact in the scientific community, with an H-index of ~15. Furthermore, it has been a crucible for nurturing talent and building capacity, involving 14 faculty members, 3 staff scientists, 4 technicians, 18 post-doctoral fellows, 36 graduate students and 33 undergraduates, thus laying a robust foundation for the future of space biotechnology and exploration.
Next Steps in Technology’s Development:
As CUBES forges ahead, a comprehensive integration of the subsystems developed by each division is pivotal. The roadmap includes:
- Merging the biomanufacturing platforms to establish a seamless bioproduction pipeline.
- Optimizing the microbial media production using in situ resources and reprocessing waste streams.
- Synchronizing the processes for bioproduct and food/pharmaceutical synthesis to ensure continuous and robust operation.
- Creating the data-driven technoeconomic analyses that help drive technology choice and adaptation to ensure the development paths optimally serve mission needs.
- Elevating the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) through stringent testing in simulated Martian and space environments, with the derived insights sculpting further refinements.
Aerospace Applications:
CUBES technologies harbor the potential to revolutionize aerospace endeavors through:
- Sustainable Life Support in Space: Enabling the production of food, pharmaceuticals and vital bioproducts using intrinsic Martian resources, thus reducing costs and mitigating the dependency on supply missions.
- Waste Recycling in Space: Facilitating the conversion of mission waste and inedible biomass into valuable resources, propelling a closed-loop system, which is essential for prolonged space missions and minimizing impact on the planetary environment.
- Space Habitat Construction: Catalyzing the utilization of novel biopolymers and other materials for constructing habitats on Mars through additive manufacturing techniques.
Non-Aerospace Applications:
Beyond the cosmos, the technologies developed by CUBES find resonance in terrestrial applications, such as:
- Waste Recycling on Earth: Enabling the transformation of waste into valuable resources, thereby bolstering waste management and sustainability initiatives.
- Bio-manufacturing: Offering innovative platforms for both the biopharmaceutical industry, especially in the synthesis of crucial drugs and treatments and for the materials industry where sustainable and biorecylable materials can be used to produce environment friendly construction materials.
- Agricultural Enhancement: Applying plant and microbiome engineering techniques to elevate agricultural productivity, fortify resilience and enhance nutritional value on Earth.
CUBES and the systems space bioprocess engineering approach stands at the confluence of pioneering sustainable human presence in space, shaping not only the future of exploration but also contributing to sustainable and innovative solutions on Earth.