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SSEP Mission 17 - Microalgae in Space

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About the Project

As part of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP) Mission 17, a team from Pine View School, including Rugan Suresh, Felix Ratner, Rishik Yellu, and Yatharth Kakkad have won the opportunity to launch their experiment into space, to be tested under microgravity conditions. This group is testing the effect of microgravity on the ability of microalga Chlorella vulgaris to remove phosphates and nitrates from wastewater. Microalgae are complex plants that have emerged as a green solution for waste-treatment in the last ten years. We wish to expand upon this, especially for applications in microgravity.

The Experiment

This experiment investigates the ability of microalga Chlorella vulgaris to remove nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater in microgravity. Microalgae are complex photosynthetic organisms that have evolved for over three billion years and are emerging as a green solution for water treatment and nutrient recycling on Earth. If microalgae can remove contaminants from synthetic wastewater in microgravity, then they could play a key role in self-sustained life support systems which are essential for long term space missions. The contaminants in the synthetic wastewater that the microalgae are removing would provide nutrients for the microalgae to grow, creating an optimal cycle. The strain Chlorella vulgaris has been chosen because it can grow heterotrophically using organic carbon and wastewater. In both the ground control and ISS experiments, the Chlorella vulgaris culture will be added to a mixture of wastewater and glucose solution. Two days before undocking for return to Earth, both experiments will be terminated using a fixative. The difference in the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous between the ground and ISS experiments will be analyzed to determine how microgravity impacted the experiment. Using microalgae as a solution will not only provide the benefit of cleaner water in space but will also generate oxygen and high value bioproducts in the process.

The Launch

Details

SSEP Mission 17 is planned to be launched to the ISS on November 7th at about 9:00 PM on a SpaceX rocket.

The scientists with their advisor Marie Rosander.

The scientists in lab (left to right): Rishik Yellu, Felix Ratner, Yatharth Kakkad, and Rugan Suresh, all eighth graders attending Pine View School in Osprey, FL

The scientists stand with their advisor Marie Rosander and Principal Dr. Stephen Covert while congratulating them on getting accepted into SSEP Mission 17.

Working on the Experiment

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SSEP Mission 17 - Microalgae in Space

SSEP Mission 17 - Microalgae in Space

Info

About the Project

The Experiment

The Launch

Details

Working on the Experiment

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