A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS
Microalgal attached cultivation circumvents gas-liquid separation issues of liquid-suspended cultivation, yet performance under reduced gravity remains unevaluated. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluated Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) cultivation under artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity ({micro}G) on the International Space Station. Spirulina expanded without cell detachment, medium floating, or component separation, with relative radial growth rates of 0.28%0.5 day-1 (1G), 0.22%0.5 day-1 (1/6G), and 0.17-0.21%0.5 day-1 ({micro}G), demonstrating feasibility in space.
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