HomeBlogPlant Cultivation System in Space Environment by Orius and CNES

Plant Cultivation System in Space Environment by Orius and CNES

Orius and CNES have published a paper titled “Plant Cultivation System in Space Environment: Towards Food Autonomy for Lunar and Martian Missions by 2050” authored by Pierre-François Pluchon, Bastien Aubry, Paul-Hector Oliver and Gregory Navarro.

Cultivation Systems for Lunar Exploration and Beyond

The lunar ambitions of NASA's Artemis program spell out multiple crewed missions to the Moon and to Mars. The ESA Terrae Novae 2030+ exploration roadmap aims to enable Europe’s participation in the first crewed exploration mission to Mars. 

However, deep space missions still present significant challenges, particularly as missions extend in duration and distance, making it increasingly difficult to supply astronauts with everything they need from Earth.

One of the key objectives in enhancing the autonomy of space missions is the development of an efficient and self-sustaining cultivation system. 

Towards Food Autonomy

Orius and the CNES have partnered to design a modular, controlled environment agriculture system capable of : 

  • Cultivating fruits and vegetables by recreating the ideal biome —  ecosystem favorable to plant’s growth —  for each targeted plant species.
  • Meeting targeted caloric objectives for a crew of 4 astronauts.
  • Smooth out the production to ensure a steady and sustainable supply.
  • Providing diversity to enjoy fresh food — even in space.

Initial results are promising, with yields that match or exceed those of the most advanced terrestrial systems for crops like tomatoes, cabbages, turnips, and herbs.

The system aims at supplying over 50% of the necessary calories for a crew of 4 astronauts on an 80-square-meter surface, ensuring a continuously diverse and balanced diet.

What’s next in our spatial adventure ? 

  • We will continue to explore the potential of other crops, such as potatoes or peanuts, which may require dedicated aeroponic systems.
  • We plan to diversify production with additional fruits (e.g., strawberries), cereals and legumes.
  • Leveraging Orius' expertise in enhancing the production of active compounds in medicinal and cosmetic plants, we will investigate how to optimize plant molecular composition to produce nutrient-rich superfoods.

Want to learn more? Discover the full paper here : https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/items/b89defa0-a543-43d6-a173-cd45dead3a59/full