Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32230: Space Alchemy: Turning Organic Waste into Useful Nutrients on the ISS

What if space travelers could turn waste into wealth? That’s the question driving Dr. Ryosuke Endo’s research aboard Expedition 73. The experiment—Inorganic Nutrients Generation from Organic Substances—explores innovative ways to recycle organic materials in space, transforming them into vital inorganic nutrients that can support life.

On Earth, decomposers naturally break down organic matter into soil nutrients. In the closed environment of the International Space Station (ISS), such recycling becomes essential for sustainable long-term missions. This experiment investigates whether similar processes can be engineered in microgravity using controlled systems.

The research team, including Chiyoda Advanced Solutions Corporation, examines chemical breakdown pathways, analyzing how various organic inputs can yield essential compounds like nitrates and phosphates. These nutrients are key to growing plants in space and could one day support self-sustaining life support systems for lunar or Martian habitats.

By developing efficient methods for nutrient recovery, the project helps reduce resupply needs from Earth and pushes the boundaries of closed-loop life support. It’s a pioneering step toward sustainable space living, showing that even in the harshest environments, we can make life work—intelligently and resourcefully.

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