A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS

Arthrospira platensis attached cultivation on the ISS expanded under artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity, with relative radial growth rates of 0.28%0.5 day-1, 0.22%0.5 day-1, and 0.17–0.21%0.5 day-1.

• Why it matters: Reduced gravity may affect microalgal attached cultivation, but performance had not been evaluated in space, leaving feasibility uncertain for avoiding gas–liquid separation problems.
• What they did: As a proof-of-concept, the team cultivated attached Arthrospira platensis on the International Space Station under artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity and monitored growth and physical stability.
• The result: Cultures showed no cell detachment, medium floating, or component separation, and growth persisted across gravity levels, supporting feasibility of attached cultivation in space.

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