A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS
Microalgal attached cultivation circumvents gas-liquid separation issues of liquid-suspended cultivation, yet performance under reduced gravity remains unevaluated. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluated Arthrospira platensis ( Spirulina ) cultivation under artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity (µG) on the International Space Station. Spirulina expanded without cell detachment, medium floating, or component separation, with relative radial growth rates of 0.28% 0.5 day −1 (1G), 0.22% 0.5 day −1 (1/6G), and 0.17–0.21% 0.5 day −1 (µG), demonstrating feasibility in space.
Authors
- Motoshi Kamada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2354-5399)
- Toru Shimazu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0343-8035)
- Junya Kirima
- Yasuyuki Kikuchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2786-4681)
- Tomokazu Yamazaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5557-689X)
- Haruo Kasahara
- Hayato Ohkuma
- Kana Kuriyama
- Takashi Inada
- Takanori Hoshino
- Shinichi Aoki
- Eriko Moriyama
Institutions
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JP)
- Advanced Engineering Services (Japan) (JP)
- Japan Space Forum (JP)
- Chitose Laboratory Corp. (Japan) (JP)
- Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (Japan) (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
- Published
- 2026-10-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.27.762075
- Primary Topic
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Type
- preprint
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Northrop Grumman
- Kennedy Space Center
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency