The Role of Biotechnology in Space Exploration

Nidhi Sharath
20 hours ago
4 min read

Bangalore, India

Biotechnology is commonly known for its impact on medicine, agriculture, and the environment. It is now playing an increasingly important role in space exploration. From growing food in zero gravity to supporting astronaut health, it offers innovative and sustainable solutions for living and working beyond Earth. In collaboration with space science, biotechnology is helping to reshape the future of long-duration missions and the commercialisation of space travel. However, taking lab-developed solutions into space comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s take a closer look at how space agencies and scientists are applying biotechnology today, and how it may evolve in the future.

Current and Future Applications of Space Biotechnology

The Role of Microbial Biotechnology Systems in Space Agriculture

A key component in the production of food in space is microbial technology, which is vital for sustainability and survival during extended missions. Plant-associated microbes- much like the human

A graphic of a space habitat with life support, waste recycling, food production, and material manufacturing labelled. The arrows illustrate the flow of resupply water, oxygen, carbon, and minerals, and the bioreactors foster closed loop sustainability. — A microbial biotechnology based life support system in an agnostic space environment

microbiome- help boost crop immunity, facilitate the absorption of essential nutrients, and regulate stress in plants. Beneficial bacteria, such as nitrifying bacteria used in agriculture, help maintain soil health and resilience in space. Through processes like nitrogen fixation and waste recycling, these microbes help convert nitrogenous compounds from sources like urine into usable nutrients- such as ammonia- that can then support plant growth. In addition to aiding plant development, algae and cyanobacteria also help recycle air and serve as food resources. Techniques such as hydroponics rely on local resources for future settlements on the Moon or Mars. Biotechnology plays an essential role in building systems where food production, air, and water are closely interconnected.

Biotechnology for Controlled Crop Cultivation in Space

While microbial systems help support the environment for space farming, controlling crop growth itself requires more direct biotechnological interventions. Microgravity makes it impossible to practice traditional crop farming in space. Yet with new biotechnologies, scientists are able to cultivate edible plants and modify microorganisms that can be developed into genetically enhanced organisms. Those of which can fulfill astronauts’ dietary demands. Methods such as transgenics are being investigated to

enhance yield, harvest index, and nutrients in crops grown in space. Some studies have explored how space-grown crops could even have altered nutritional profiles compared to Earth-grown ones, due to different stress exposures. Current study is also concentrated on the growth of microbes in micro-

NASA experiment showing successful growth of Arabidopsis and dwarf wheat aboard the ISS in the Advanced Plant Habitat, demonstrating plant cultivation in microgravity conditions. The green plants are contained within a controlled chamber with metal and wiring, illuminated by bright lights. Labels and dials are visible on the sides. — An example is when NASA successfully grew Arabidopsis and dwarf wheat aboard the ISS in the Advanced Plant Habitat.

bioreactors to make nutrient supplements compact and space-effective for long missions. A recent example is the NASA Veggie experiment (Veg-O1), that worked to increase fresh food delivered to the International Space Station with the help of a plant growth chamber based on the controlled-environment biotechnologies. Initiatives like this are important in terms of improving food sustainability for long hauls in space.

Biotechnology Solutions for Monitoring and Medical Care in Space

Ensuring astronaut health in space is one of the biggest hurdles of long-duration missions. Microgravity pulls body fluids toward the head, affecting vision and intracranial pressure, whereas radiation and isolation tax physical and psychological well-being. In 2019, biotechnology began offering compact solutions for real-time health monitoring with devices like biosensors, wearable tech, and lab-on-a-chip testing rising to the fore. These compact technologies are especially valuable on missions where medical professionals or full diagnostic labs aren’t available. These tools can accurately measure vitals, hydration, and stress levels. Furthermore, it has been investigated whether biomedical devices applied to the legs, such as cuffs, might be used to mitigate fluid shifts. Exploiting the potential of regenerative medicine, wound healing, and tissue repair in microgravity using engineered cells and portable bioreactors are also being explored. These advances are designed to make health care in space more autonomous and reactive.

Gene Editing and Synthetic Biology for Human Adaptation

Illustration of scientists conducting genetic engineering research in a laboratory with DNA sequencing and plant samples, highlighting biotechnology applications for space missions. The scientists in lab coats work with test tubes next to a DNA model. Lab equipment and plant icons are in the blue background. — Scientists exploring genetic engineering to enhance plant growth for space missions

In addition to real-time health monitoring, researchers are also exploring how humans themselves might be biologically adapted for life in space. Outside of immediate care, space agencies are even giving thought to how gene editing and synthetic biology could be used to help humans better withstand space. With the technology available, we could now enhance resistance to cosmic radiation with tools like CRISPR, and mitigate loss of bone density and muscle mass on long missions. Such approaches raise exciting possibilities, including developing astronauts with enhanced resilience to space stressors or faster recovery from injury. These sorts of strategies open the door to precision medicine in space-and ultimately- more autonomous astronaut health care that doesn’t require as much support from medical staff back on Earth. As technology advances and enables deeper exploration of space, biotechnology may continue to play a crucial role in supporting human survival far beyond Earth.

Ethical Challenges and Limitations

Biotechnology holds enormous promise for the future of space exploration, but it also presents a range of scientific, technical, and ethical challenges. In microgravity, cells behave differently than they do on Earth. Their growth, communication, and response to stimuli can change in unexpected ways. This makes processes like gene editing, tissue repair, and microbial engineering more difficult to manage. Exposure to cosmic radiation adds another layer of complexity, with the potential to damage DNA and compromise the stability of genetically modified organisms. Even promising systems such as micro-bioreactors and nutrient recycling technologies, must be precisely adapted to function in the extreme environment of space. Ethical concerns also arise when considering the use of genetic modification to help humans better withstand long-term missions. As this field continues to advance, the future of biotechnology in space will depend not only on how far science can take us, but also on how carefully and responsibly we apply it.