European involvement in CELSS: Definition of a Closed Ecological Systems Test Bed.

This work was to provide the European Space Agency (ESA) with technical and architectural guide-lines for the eventual building of a Closed Ecological System Test Bed. This work had three successive targets. The first target has been the definition of the general objectives and the specific requirements for a closed ecological system test bed. It shall have the appropriate flexibility which will enable the users to perform separately and/or in parallel, multiple tasks. Indeed, some biological life support units may also be investigated as specific support to the currently on-going European manned space projects. In addition, some concepts for the test bed have been defined taking into account the rather contractory needs for a sealed structure and for structural and functional flexibility. One of them has been the subject of a preliminary architectural definition which is presented with some detail. Finally, the important terrestrial applications of such a CES test bed have been considered.