Towards a Biomanufactory on Mars
Aaron J. Berliner, Jacob M. Hilzinger, Anthony J. Abel, Matthew J. McNulty, George Makrygiorgos, Nils J. H. Averesch, Soumyajit Gupta, Alexander Benvenuti, Daniel Caddell, Stefano Cestellos-Blanco, Anna Doloman, Skyler Friedline, Davian Ho, Wenyu Gu, Avery Hill, Paul Kusuma, Isaac Lipsky, Mia Mirkovic, Jorge Luis Meraz, Vincent Pane, Kyle B. Sander, Fengzhe Shi, Jeffrey M. Skerker, Alex Styer, Kyle Valgardson, Kelly M. Wetmore, Sung-Geun Woo, Yongao Xiong, Kevin Yates, Cindy Zhang, Shuyang Zhen, Bruce Bugbee, Douglas S. Clark, Devin Coleman‐Derr, Ali Mesbah, Somen Nandi, Robert M. Waymouth, Peidong Yang, Craig S. Criddle, Karen A. McDonald, Lance C. Seefeldt, Amor A. Menezes, Adam P. Arkin
Abstract
A crewed mission to and from Mars may include an exciting array of enabling biotechnologies that leverage inherent mass, power, and volume advantages over traditional abiotic approaches. In this perspective, we articulate the scientific and engineering goals and constraints, along with example systems, that guide the design of a surface biomanufactory. Extending past arguments for exploiting stand-alone elements of biology, we argue for an integrated biomanufacturing plant replete with modules for microbial in situ resource utilization, production, and recycling of food, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials required for sustaining future intrepid astronauts. We also discuss aspirational technology trends in each of these target areas in the context of human and robotic exploration missions.