How NASA's Next-Generation Life Support Systems Are Revolutionizing Space Exploration
Imagine being surrounded by the infinite void of space, where every breath of air, every drop of water, and every morsel of food must be meticulously planned and recycled.
This is the daily reality for astronauts living and working beyond Earth's atmosphere. As NASA prepares for sustained lunar exploration through the Artemis program and eventual missions to Mars, the development of advanced life support systems has become more critical than ever. These technological marvels must reliably provide everything humans need to survive in the most inhospitable environments imaginable, while simultaneously minimizing reliance on costly resupply missions from Earth.
The International Space Station recycles approximately 90% of its water, including moisture from the air and astronauts' sweat and urine.
The evolution of life support systems represents one of NASA's most remarkable engineering achievements. From the entirely open-loop, disposable systems of the Mercury and Apollo eras to the partially closed systems aboard the International Space Station (ISS), each generation has brought us closer to the self-sustaining ecosystems necessary for long-duration space missions. Today, through NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) division, engineers and scientists are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with revolutionary technologies that could eventually enable human settlement of other worlds while simultaneously benefiting life on Earth through numerous spinoff applications 8 .
At its core, a life support system must provide six essential functions: temperature and humidity control; atmosphere control and supply; atmosphere revitalization; water recovery and management; waste management; and food management 7 .
NASA categorizes these systems as either "open-loop" or "closed-loop" depending on how they handle resources. Open-loop systems provide all required resources from storage or resupply and store waste products for disposal. While simpler initially, they become increasingly impractical as mission duration and crew size increase due to their massive resupply requirements.
Beyond physical/chemical (P/C) systems like those on the ISS, NASA is researching bioregenerative life support that uses living organisms to create self-sustaining ecosystems.
In these systems, plants and microorganisms not only produce food but also regenerate the atmosphere by consuming carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, while simultaneously helping to recycle wastewater. The ultimate vision is a fully closed ecosystem that mimics Earth's natural cycles, requiring minimal external inputs once established 5 .
| System Type | Resource Handling | Advantages | Limitations | Implementation Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-Loop | All resources from storage/resupply; waste stored | Simple design, proven technology | High resupply mass, unsustainable for long missions | Mercury, Gemini, Apollo |
| Partially Closed (P/C) | Partial recycling of water and oxygen; some resupply needed | Reduced resupply compared to open-loop | Limited closure percentage; complex machinery | International Space Station |
| Bioregenerative | Biological recycling of air, water, and waste; food production | Highest potential closure; produces fresh food | Complex to balance; requires significant volume | Chinese Lunar Palace, NASA BIO-PLEX concept |
NASA's Next Generation Life Support (NGLS) project represents the forefront of life support technology development. Though now archived, this project laid crucial groundwork for technologies now being advanced through AES. NGLS focused on developing new capabilities for Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLSS) and Extravehicular Activity (EVA) systems needed to extend human presence beyond low Earth orbit 1 .
One of NGLS's most promising initiatives was the SpaceCraft Oxygen Recovery (SCOR) project, which seeks to develop alternative carbon dioxide reduction technologies that increase oxygen recovery beyond the current state-of-the-art (approximately 50% recovery on ISS) to approach 100% recovery. Two technologies show particular promise: Bosch technology and Methane pyrolysis 1 .
Beyond atmospheric systems, NGLS also addressed extravehicular activities through its High Performance EVA Glove (HPEG) development. Current spacesuit gloves have limited life, severely restrict hand mobility, and contribute to a large fraction of injuries observed during crew training and spaceflight. The HPEG project researched mechanisms for hand injury and generated quantitative standards for evaluating glove performance 1 .
While NASA's bioregenerative efforts have faced challenges, China's space program has demonstrated remarkable progress in this area, largely building upon earlier NASA research. The most impressive demonstration to date is the Beijing Lunar Palace experiment, where crewmembers successfully lived for a full year in a closed bioregenerative system 5 .
The Lunar Palace 1 facility consisted of three modules: a comprehensive laboratory module and two plant cultivation modules with a total area of 500 square meters. The system was designed as a closed ecosystem where plants, microorganisms, and humans coexisted in a carefully balanced relationship 5 .
| Parameter | Initial Value | Final Value | Closure Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | 100% from storage | 98% regenerated | 98% | Mostly through plant photosynthesis |
| Water | 100% from storage | 98% recycled | 98% | Combined physical/chemical and biological processing |
| Food | 100% from storage | 80% produced | 80% | Diverse crop selection provided balanced nutrition |
| Solid Waste | 100% stored | 100% processed | 100% | Completely recycled as plant fertilizer |
"The success of Lunar Palace 1 demonstrates the feasibility of bioregenerative life support for long-duration space missions and represents a significant achievement in closed ecological system management."
Developing advanced life support systems requires specialized materials and technologies. Here are some of the key research reagents and materials essential for this work:
| Reagent/Material | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Solid amine resins | Carbon dioxide absorption | Atmosphere revitalization on ISS and future spacecraft |
| Nickel catalyst beds | Catalyzing Sabatier reaction | Converting CO₂ to methane and water aboard ISS |
| Reverse osmosis membranes | Water purification | Removing contaminants from wastewater |
| Hydrophobic membranes | Gas-liquid separation | Humidity control in microgravity |
| Lithium hydroxide | Carbon dioxide removal | Backup CO₂ scrubbing in spacecraft |
| Plant growth media | Support plant growth without soil | Bioregenerative life support systems |
| Specialized algae strains | Oxygen production, CO₂ consumption, food source | Experimental biological life support |
Despite significant progress, numerous challenges remain in developing reliable life support systems for long-duration missions. System closure percentage presents a fundamental tradeoff—as closure approaches 100%, the complexity, mass, and power requirements increase dramatically 7 .
A recent analysis published in npj Microgravity highlighted concerning strategic capability gaps in NASA's current bioregenerative life support efforts compared to China's ambitious program. According to the analysis, "China has surpassed the US and its allies in both scale and preeminence of these emerging efforts and technologies" 5 .
NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems division is addressing these challenges through multiple parallel development pathways:
Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions used disposable systems with all resources supplied from Earth.
Skylab and Space Shuttle programs introduced limited water recycling and improved atmosphere management.
International Space Station implemented water recycling and oxygen generation systems achieving ~90% water closure.
NASA's NGLS project and China's Lunar Palace experiments advanced bioregenerative approaches.
Artemis program aims to demonstrate integrated life support systems on lunar surface with higher closure rates.
The development of advanced life support systems represents one of the most fascinating intersections of engineering, biology, and human factors in space exploration.
As NASA and its international partners prepare for sustained human presence on the Moon and eventual missions to Mars, these life-giving technologies will literally mean the difference between life and death for astronauts venturing into the cosmic void.
What makes this research particularly compelling is its dual-use nature—the same technologies developed to keep astronauts alive in space consistently find applications that improve life on Earth. NASA's recent Spinoff 2025 publication highlights numerous examples, from water purification systems providing clean drinking water in disaster areas to medical monitoring devices derived from systems developed to track astronaut health 3 .
Technologies developed for space life support have led to advancements in water purification, air filtration, waste management, and sustainable agriculture on Earth.
As we look toward the future of space exploration, advanced life support systems will continue to evolve from the partially closed systems of today to the fully closed, self-sustaining ecosystems necessary for humanity to become a truly spacefaring species. The technological achievements in this field represent some of our most impressive extensions of Earth's life-giving environment into the sterile void of space—literally creating pockets of our planet's nurturing embrace where none existed before. Through continued research and international collaboration, these systems will eventually enable human exploration of the solar system while simultaneously providing benefits to those of us who remain on our home planet.