Concluding remarks of Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) experiments.

Abstract

Team efforts for analysis on the Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) space experiments are summarized here to conclude scientific findings, and to scope the extended studies in future. From the three experiments on Space Shuttle and Space Station Mir, a closed ecological system modeled by the ABS was verified to be capable of sustaining its members of animals and plants under space environment for a period of several months. The animals successfully completed their life cycle in space during the course of these experiments, this was the first time that the life cycle of higher organisms had been completed in space and ecological system. Importance of gravity for ecology was proven at the same time. Gravity is a dominant factor for ecology by formulating spatial patterns and distribution of members of ecological system. Under microgravity, the fate of ecological system was found highly sensitive against the variation of environmental factor, such as light illumination cycle.