Returning in a research center in the town of Palavas-Les-Flots in the south of France, sea basses are not part of an ordinary scientific study. These fish will be the parents of the first puppies to be sent into space one day.
The project called “Lunar Hatch” is investigated whether the sea bass can be grown in a space environment. The goal is to provide astronauts a regular and sustainable protein source in long tasks.
The leader of the project is the Naval Biologist from the National Ocean Research Institute of France. Cyrille Przybyla emphasizes that the fish is one of the easiest protein sources of digestion and is rich in Omega 3 and B vitamins. “This is very important for the protection of muscle mass in space,” he says.
Eggs will be sent into space
The plan is to throw fertilized sea bass eggs into space. Eggs and embryos will continue to develop until they reach the International Space Station (ISS). In the first stage, the fish will be observed only, then frozen will be brought back to Earth. In the long run, fish farms are planned to be established on the Moon.
If a base is set up on the Moon, przybyle predicts that astronauts can be served at least twice a week.
Fish experiments in space are not new
Fish are not sent to space for the first time. In 1973, in one of the Apollo tasks, small Fish of Mummichog was taken into space. Then, in 1976, the Soviet Union performed experiments with lepists at the Salyut space station.
In 2015, zebra fish was sent to ISS and muscle melting in micro gravity was investigated. China also sent zebra fish to its own space station last year. However, this time the aim is not only research, but to provide regular food production.
Closed loop food chain is targeted
The ultimate goal of the project is to establish a food system without waste, closed circuit on the Moon.
Aquariums will be filled with water to be obtained from ice in the craters at the poles of the Moon. Waste water from fish will be used in microalg production. Microalgs will be feeding for filtering organisms such as mussels or zooplanktons.
Fish feces will be processed by shrimps and worms; These creatures will be fed for fish.
Dr. “The purpose of the Lunar Hatch project is zero waste. The entire system should be able to process itself for four to five months,” Przybyla says.
Preparation for space journey
Approximately 200 sea bass will be enough to provide two portions of fish per week to seven astronodes in a 16 -week mission. With the eggs to be sent into space, the sister eggs remaining in the bragging-les-fluots will be watched as a control group.
The project started in 2016 when the European Space Agency called for ideas for the “Moon Village” project. At the end of 2018, the first support was received from the National Space Agency (CNES).
The primary target was to see if fertilized fish eggs can withstand the vibrations on the rocket take off. Simulations showed that the development of the embryos was not affected.
Now is to test the accuracy of this data by participating in a real space mission. Przybyla hopes to find a place in a launching mission from Cnes and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. However, the date has not yet become clear.
The project responded to China with similar studies. However, Przybyla emphasizes that Lunar Hatch can also make a critical contribution in the world:
“The system we develop here is also important in terms of environmental protection and economic sustainability. It can also be applied in the Earth for isolated communities.”
