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PRESSRELEASE–TIMESCALE- a project in the HORIZON 2020 EU-programme
Astronauts are also humans – needing air, water and food
TIME SCALE meets crucial needs for future space missions
and for sustainable food production on Earth
The HORIZON 2020 EU-project TIME SCALE meets the crucial need for future space missions and
sustainable food production on Earth. The project is a part for the Horizon 2020 program, and will be
conducted over three years during the period 2015-2018.
The project will gain scientific knowledge on health and growth conditions for food plants (crops) in
space as well as on Earth. The knowledge will impact on innovations of life supports systems in space as
well as on agriculture on Earth.
So far humans have experienced short duration journeys to the Moon and humans live on space stations
located close to Earth surface. Regular supplies of the basic needs such as oxygen, water and food are
shipped to the station. For longer space journeys we need life support systems that can recycle oxygen,
water and produce food. Basic research on plants has taken place on the space stations and presently on
the International Space Station (ISS). The TIME SCALE project will procure the basis for a new
generation of experiments on food plants (crops), algae bioreactors and mice.
The TIME SCALE project will bring closed regenerative life support system (CRLSS) at next
technological level by further development of the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS). The
EMCS has been successfully operated on the ISS for 7 years with rotors allowing scientific research
under Moon and Mars gravity exposures in addition to microgravity conditions. The EMCS modular
design provides the possibility to replace the individual subsystems including the entire rotor system.
The project TIME SCALE emphasizes research, develop and test of future technologies for human life
support systems.
Besides new generations of sustainable food production systems on Earth, TIME SCALE will support the
vision to enable space exploration, especially long-term travels and stays in space, as well as on the
surface of Moon and Mars.
Key outline of the project
The Project with the acronym TIME SCALE is a part of COMPET-07-2014 – Space Exploration – Life
support – Research and Innovation action, i.e. within the Horizon 2020 envelope of EU.
The acronym TIME SCALE refers to the title Technology and Innovation for Development of Modular
Equipment in Scalable Advanced Life Support Systems for Space Explorations.
The three year project (2015-2018) includes eight partner organizations:
− The Norwegian CIRiS (Project Coordinator)
− Wageningen University (Netherlands)
− Ghent University (Belgium)
− University of Stuttgart (Germany)
− DTM (Italy)
− Interscience (Belgium)
− Prototech (Norway)
− CleanGrow (Ireland)
The main goal of the TIME SCALE project is to develop an advanced life support system breadboard and
to demonstrate the operational capability for the EMCS, located on ISS (flight model) and CIRiS (ground
model).
The EMCS rotor baseplate will provide generic interfaces to several compartments of a CRLSS such as
higher plants (crops), algae bioreactors and mice.
Scientific knowledge on whole higher plant (crop) physiology and fundamental processes under Moon
and Mars gravity conditions are essential to ensure a safe and reliable food supply in future space
exploration and integration of higher plants into a CRLSS.
As part of the project an EMCS crop cultivation system will be developed and tested. The closed water
and nutrient management research and development will include solution for challenges such as lack of
thermal convection, buoyancy and the need of optimized technology (e.g. ion specific sensors to monitor
nutrients available for plants). Remote sensing diagnosis of plant health will be implemented using
sensors and imaging techniques and Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT‐MS). Knowledge
and technology on nutrient and water recycling and early warning for crop suboptimal growth conditions
has significant terrestrial relevance for greenhouse systems.
The TIME SCALE project brings together Universities and SMEs with the state of the art knowledge and
experience needed to develop regenerative life support systems for space applications as well as for
terrestrial applications and benefits. Closing the water and nutrient system in greenhouse horticulture is
one of the prerequisites for development of a sustainable agriculture in Europe and is a key investment to
increase profit through savings on fertilizer and water and increased process control and predictability in
production. With the ever increasing pressure on available arable land and water resources, plant stress
alleviation and avoidance will becomes of prime importance in agriculture.
The project will leverage on the advent of multi‐sensor detection of volatiles and nutrient/water sensor
technology to monitor and regulate emerging stresses in plant crops.
The project will also have strong synergies to other ongoing and planned technology development
projects where gas transport, gas monitoring and humidity control are important elements, e.g.
regenerative fuel cells and methane recovery systems.
To maximize the outcome of the project, a Science Advisory Board has been established.
Further information can be found on www.timescale.no
Impact - innovations and technology transfer potential
Partner Exploitation potential of the TIMESCALE results
NTNU
Space The activities are considered to be highly complementary to the company strategy and on-
going activities for established customers such as ESA and NASA.
Non-
space
The results expected in the area of plant cultivation in closed/controlled system will provide
a valuable for our company and our future customers in terrestrial agriculture and
aquaculture.
The evolution of tools, methods/analyses and standards applied for the lean project
management, safety and quality is expect to have good exploitation opportunities with
customers in maritime and offshore sector.
WU
Space
Water and nutrient supply systems that can deal with reduced gravity are critical
requirements for life support systems. Therefore providing exploitation potential to space
exploration activities.
Non-
space
In Horticulture there is a huge market for accurate and fully automated water and nutrient
supply systems, including ion selective monitoring of nutrients.
The developed models can be used to predict water, nutrients and oxygen availability to
roots. These models can be exploited in horticulture.
UGent
Space The results expected in the area of plant health monitoring will add effective possibilities for
life support in space, allowing control of sustainable crop growth and yield.
Non-
space
The results expected in the area of plant health monitoring will provide ample possibilities
for exploitation in terrestrial precision agriculture and horticulture.
UStutt
Space Research activities on a photobioreactor system for space are conducted since 2010. The
concept development for this proposal offers a unique opportunity of realization.
Non-
space
Development of miniaturized sensors and diagnostic tools will provide a valuable for our
partners involved in terrestrial application (e.g. the company Subitec GmbH).
DTM
Space The activities are considered to be in line with the company strategy and on-going activities
for firmly settled customers such as ESA and NASA.
Non-
space
The study of high technology devices for fluid handling, monitoring and control of sensors
and actuator is of great importance to consolidate the skills of the company. The evolution of
tools, methods/analyses and standards applied for the lean project management, safety and
quality is also needed by non-space industries. We expect to take advantages in finding
opportunities with customers in biomedical field mainly in the area of blood handling
apparatus.
ISB
Space
Sensitive early detection, monitoring and diagnosis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in
general, and as indicators of plant stress allow effective monitoring and optimizing the use of
water and nutrients in space plant production systems.
Non-
space
Improved rapid, non-destructive and low cost techniques for the sensitive early detection,
monitoring and diagnosis of plant stress allow effective management responses. These aims
are an integral part of precision agriculture, which strives to limit the inputs of nutrients,
pesticides and herbicides
Proto
Space
Fluid components, e.g. valves, filters and flow control, are a targeted area for space
applications. Integrated energy and life support systems e.g. regenerative fuel cells systems
for satellites, methane recovery and CO2 electrolysis systems for use in life support systems.
Non-
space
The current project will have strong synergies to ongoing and planned technology
development projects, in particular where gas transport, gas monitoring and humidity
control are important elements.
CGro
Space Improved monitoring and control of ions in nutrient solutions. Relevant for the monitoring
and control of nutrients in a CRLSS.
Non-
space
Replace time-consuming and costly analyses with a single handheld device providing multi-
ion sensor with a meter for on-site measurements and real-time feedback on potential yield-
threatening nutrient levels
For further information:
www.timescale.no
Ann-Iren Kittang JOST
Research Manager
NTNU Dragvoll, N-7491 Trondheim,
NORWAY
Telephone: +47 928 80 298
E-Mail: [email protected]
NTNU Samfunnsforskning , CIRiS
Dr. Ann-Iren Kittang Jost
Dragvoll allè 38B NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Phone: +477359 0172
Email: [email protected]
Wageningen University
Department of Plant Science
Prof. Leo Marcelis
Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands
+31317485675
Ghent University
Department of Physiology
Prof. Dominique Van Der Straeten
KL Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
+3292645185
University of Stuttgart
Institute of Space Systems
Dr. Stefan Belz
Pfaffenwaldring 29, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
+4971168560361
DTM SRL (Design and technologies for high performance
mechanics SRL)
DTM R&D department
Davide Santachiara
Via Tacito 65, 41123 Modena MO, Italy
+39059847337
Interscience Belgium
Dr. Joeri Vercammen
Avenue Jean-Etienne Lenoir, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve,
Belgium
+3210450025
Prototech AS
Dr. Bjarte Solheim
Fantoftvegen 38, NO-5072 Bergen, Norway
+4794153734
CleanGrow Ltd
Dr. Roy O’Mahony
2 Park Place, Cork, Ireland
+442032874204
