A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS

Inada, T.; Kamada, M.; Ohkuma, H.; Shimazu, T.; Kirima, J.; Kikuchi, Y.; Kasahara, H.; Yamazaki, T.; Kuriyama, K.; Moriyama, E.; Aoki, S.; Hoshino, T.

doi:10.64898/2026.10.27.762075

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.10.27.762075

A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS

Inada, T.·Kamada, M.·Ohkuma, H.·Shimazu, T.·Kirima, J.·Kikuchi, Y.·Kasahara, H.·Yamazaki, T.·Kuriyama, K.·Moriyama, E.·Aoki, S.·Hoshino, T.

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Abstract

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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Inada, T., Kamada, M., Ohkuma, H., Shimazu, T., Kirima, J., Kikuchi, Y., Kasahara, H., Yamazaki, T., Kuriyama, K., Moriyama, E., Aoki, S., Hoshino, T.. 2026-10-29. A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.27.762075

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