One of the 13 experiments carried out as part of Turkey's first manned space mission was the “Expert” experiment, which was prepared under the leadership of Berat Haznedaroğlu, Associate Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Boğaziçi University, and aimed to: to determine the carbon dioxide capture performance and oxygen production capabilities of microalgae species. Samples of the experiment conducted by Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı while working on the International Space Station (ISS) reached the world last week.
In the research that began at Boğaziçi University's Sarıtepe Campus, the first results of the experiment showed that algae can convert three to five times more carbon dioxide into oxygen in a zero-gravity environment than in closed spaces. This finding is important for the development of life support systems in closed environments in space and for providing the oxygen needed by astronauts on long-term space missions.
The project led by Haznedaroğlu involved 8 scientists from TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (TÜBİTAK MAM) and Istanbul Medeniyet University, while TÜBİTAK Space Institute also supported the preparation of the experimental setup. The experiment tested three different species of microalgae, two isolated from the poles and one that can live in both fresh and salt water.
Haznedaroğlu informed the AA correspondent about the experimental process and the first results of the experiment and said: “On the last day of the experiment, Mr. Alper transferred the microalgae species into the protective solution we specially prepared and ensured that they were preserved in this state . The algae were placed in the cold chain and returned to the world, and our samples came to Boğaziçi University,” said.
Haznedaroğlu stated that they created a miniature of the microalgae reactors they made for the experiment under the umbrella of Microalgae Biotechnology Research and Development Unit (İMBİYOTAB) of Istanbul Boğaziçi University and that they completed the preparation stages 8 days before Launch in NASA laboratories ensured the protection of the gravity-exposed experiment 48 hours before launch and also stated that they had handed over the experiment to representatives from Axiom and SpaceX.
“All three species of microalgae used in the experiment performed well.”
Haznedaroğlu stated that after reaching the International Space Station (ISS), Gezeravcı connected and operated the experiment with the system in the Columbus module of the European Space Agency (ESA), and then they started collecting the first data from The ground computer receives satellites.
Stating that they added a carbon dioxide enrichment unit developed by researchers from TÜBİTAK MAM, one of the project participants, to boost the algae a little more and create a study that has never been done before, Haznedaroğlu said the following The first result of the experiment:
“We further increased the carbon dioxide level, which was about 500 units per million, to about 2,000, 2,500 units per million. In the data we obtained, we observed that the carbon dioxide content decreased by about 1 in 3 at these values. The reactors were small reactors of a total of 30 milliliters and with their complete systems. “We can say that the performance of converting it into oxygen is actually high. With the UzMan experiment we have proven that we can use our algae to improve the air.”
Haznedaroğlu said: “If scaled up enough, a medium-sized microalgae reactor actually has the potential to convert all the carbon dioxide that three crew members consume in a day into oxygen, that's what our studies show,” he said.
Emphasizing that all three species of microalgae they sent into space performed well, Haznedaroğlu noted that they included them among the species of algae that they could use in the next missions.
“Algae can also be used to produce functional foods”
Stating that the systems that currently convert carbon dioxide into oxygen on the space station are physical and mechanical systems, Haznedaroğlu said, “When these break down, when situations such as colonization and base establishment occur, such as at the Moon or Mars mission, this will be the case.” It takes at least six months or up to a year to deliver a cargo from Earth.” “In such a situation, the failure of a mechanical system could endanger the lives of the crew there . Therefore, the fact that algae grows itself, “Renewable systems are an important asset. With the expert experiment, we have proven that we can use our algae to improve the air,” he said.
Haznedaroğlu pointed out that the experiment actually serves more than one purpose, pointing out that they showed that seaweed can be used to produce functional foods that contain antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins that strengthen the immune system and can cover the energy needs of the astronauts there.
Haznedaroğlu concluded his words as follows:
“In the second phase of the experiment, we will study the algae metabolically and understand which functional food products can be obtained the most. We will also scientifically uncover which mechanisms contribute more to converting them into oxygen. Human needs are exactly the same.” . They need energy and food.” “Plants grown for other experiments in space need fertilizer. If an animal needs it, it can be used as food. We obtained important data that we can use for many different commercial applications, such as precious metals recovery and hydrogen production of tomorrow.”
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