Health and CELSS  (Closed) Ecological Life Support System

Human and Ecological health as well as closed ecological life support systems (Heavy particle radiation, micro-gravity, human factors among them) are at the core of resolving issues on long term human exploration of Space – on the Moon first and, one resolved, beyond the Moon into the Solar System.

The place to find the answers to these myriad of Life Sciences issues, the environmental health of humans in interplanetary space flight and the feasibility of Closed Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) is outside the Van Allen belt, yet close enough for rescue and early returns should environmental and health data indicate incipient problems. That place is the Moon, which also can supply/provide a variety of shielding and protective strategies not available in the ‘void’ of interplanetary space flight. The results of these Lunar in-situ efforts could significantly reduce costs and risks of eventual future human exploration missions beyond the Moon, e.g. to Mars.

The issues raised by the Safe Passage Report of the Institute of Medicine (2001) outlines the broad research agenda that has to be investigated, tested and satisfactorily answered with permanent human facilities on the Moon for a few decades at least before proceeding beyond.