Spirulina Cultivation: ISS Proof-of-Concept for Partial Gravity

bioRxiv

Overview

Attached cultivation of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) was successfully demonstrated aboard the International Space Station under microgravity, 1/6G, and 1G conditions. The study confirmed that this method prevents medium floating and cell detachment, proving the feasibility of space-based microalgal production.

In Depth

Key Findings

The proof-of-concept study confirms that attached cultivation of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) is feasible in space environments. The research demonstrated that Spirulina can expand without the occurrence of cell detachment, component separation, or medium floating across three different gravity levels: artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity (µG).

Technical Details

The study measured relative radial growth rates across the different gravity environments to evaluate performance. The recorded growth rates were as follows:

• Artificial 1G: 0.28% 0.5 day -1
• Partial gravity (1/6G): 0.22% 0.5 day -1
• Microgravity (µG): 0.17– 0.21% 0.5 day -1

Background & Context

Traditional liquid-suspended cultivation of microalgae faces significant challenges in space due to gas-liquid separation issues. Attached cultivation is proposed as a technical alternative to circumvent these specific problems. Prior to this study, the performance of attached cultivation under reduced gravity conditions remained unevaluated.

Significance & Outlook

By eliminating the risks of medium floating and cell detachment, this attached cultivation method provides a stable framework for producing microalgae aboard the International Space Station. The data indicates that while growth rates vary slightly depending on the gravity level—with the highest rate observed at 1G and the lowest in microgravity—the process remains viable across all tested conditions. This establishes a baseline for future biological life support or nutritional production systems in partial and zero-gravity environments.

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