Chlorella vulgaris as a Model Organism for Microgravity Cultivation in a CubeSat

Chlorella vulgaris is one of the most common and characterized algae genus with several applications, including carbon sequestration, biofuel, food production wastewater treatment. sp. are considered suitable to be used as model organisms in space research due their cultivation flexibility. Many studies have been carried out ensure better conditions for supporting human life on long-term missions deep or planetary surfaces, minimizing need resupplies. Regardless resilience has already demonstrated, useful improvement new technologies. This aimed develop culture a monitoring system C. vulgaris, under microgravity, using an image capture device CubeSats. The acquisition consisted digital microscope, remote access, Single Board Computer, computer, processing algorithm. Three microalgae colonies, laboratory conditions, were evaluated real time (every 30 minutes) size colonies parameter evaluating growth rates. highest biomass three monitored (C1-C3) was: increase 28% C1 after 90 h; 21% C2 84 36% C3 120 h. results indicated that was able monitor colonies. A specific support being developed, which allows installation this CubeSat, future microgravity conditions.