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The key challenges in space missions are the lack of continuous availability of nutrients, waste management, preservation of food, microgravity, radiation, health hazards such as cancers, cataracts, bone muscle loss, etc.
- In this regard, Space biotechnology would study how living organisms adapt, function, and evolve in microgravity conditions so as to advance space exploration and human survival.
Space Biotechnology applications and their Significance:
- Microgravity Research: Space's microgravity enables better-quality protein crystal growth, enhancing understanding of structures for precise drug development.
- Radiation Research: E.g., BioSentinel (a NASA programme) will predict how human cells will repair double-strand breaks in response to ionising radiation in space.
- BioSentinel was launched in 2022 on Artemis I.
- Environmental Monitoring: Study of microbes can be used for bioremediation to convert Mars and Moon regolith into soil capable of plant growth.
- Disease Modelling: Space biotechnology research can help model diseases to address the challenges astronauts face during long-duration space missions.
- Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: It enables self-sustaining missions through waste recycling, advancing Earth's sustainability and resource management solutions.
Initiatives
- India: Axiom-4 mission and Gaganyaan mission.
- Global Initiatives: Space Biology Program (NASA); Biolab (European Space Agency); Space breeding programs (China National Space Administration (CNSA)).
