Community Cultures Biomanufacturing for Sustainable Space Defense

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Technology; Biotechnology The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: update: The objective of this SBIR/STTR topic is to advance biomanufacturing capabilities for sustainable space defense and point-of-need biomanufacturing by investigating the use of co-cultured microorganisms in space and other austere environments. Specifically, this initiative aims to address the limitations of single-species culturing by leveraging the synergistic interactions within microbial communities to enhance resource utilization, waste management, and overall system robustness. Additionally, this topic seeks to explore the broader applications and impacts of these technologies in enabling space operations and counteracting potential threats. DESCRIPTION: update: This topic seeks innovative approaches to co-cultured biomanufacturing that can thrive in the unique conditions of space, including microgravity, radiation exposure, and with limited resource availability which is common to all austere bases. By harnessing the power of microbial communities, we aim to optimize bioproduction processes, mitigate waste accumulation, and improve overall system efficiency for long-duration space missions. Furthermore, this topic will address how these technologies can support operational resilience, counteract environmental and biological threats, and enhance the overall safety and effectiveness of space missions. The DARPA B-SURE program was illustrating the feasibility of biomanufacturing in the space domain. The objective included testing biomanufacuring using space available feedstocks, in radiation, and in microgravity. However, their scope was mostly limited to single species culturing. Microorganisms thrive in communities using a chain reaction of co-dependent processes to achieve homeostasis. Problems like over production of carbon dioxide are created by single cultures and could be solved if co-cultured with a microorganism that harvested and used carbon dioxide. Expanding beyond biomanufacturing, this project will also explore how microbial communities can be employed to manage biological threats and enhance environmental stability. PHASE I: Phase I will focus on proof-of-concept studies to demonstrate the feasibility of co-cultured biomanufacturing in simulated space environments. Activities may include screening and selecting compatible microbial strains, designing bioreactor systems for microgravity conditions, and assessing the metabolic interactions within co-cultures. The goal is to identify promising approaches for further development in subsequent phases PHASE II: Phase II will involve the optimization and appropriate scaling of co-cultured biomanufacturing processes for space and austere applications. This phase will include refining cultivation protocols, engineering bioreactor systems for space deployment, and conducting comprehensive performance evaluations under simulated microgravity and radiation conditions. Successful outcomes from Phase II will pave the way for technology demonstration in relevant space analog environments. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III will focus on transitioning the developed co-cultured biomanufacturing technology to operational use in space missions. Activities may include further refinement of system components, integration with existing space infrastructure, and validation through in-orbit experiments or space station demonstrations. Additionally, commercialization opportunities and partnerships with industry stakeholders will be explored to maximize the impact and sustainability of the technology. The scope will also cover detailed implementation plans for using these technologies to enhance operational resilience and counteract potential threats in space environments. REFERENCES: 1. DARPA B-SURE teams and outcomes, https://www.darpa.mil/program/biomanufacturing-survival-utility-and-reliability-beyond-earth.; 2. Berliner, Aaron J., et al. "Towards a biomanufactory on Mars." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 8 (2021): 711550.; 3. Berliner, Aaron J., et al. "Space bioprocess engineering on the horizon." Communications Engineering 1.1 (2022): 13.; 4. Santomartino, Rosa, et al. "Toward sustainable space exploration: a roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms." Nature communications 14.1 (2023): 1391.; KEYWORDS: Biomanufacturing, Co-culture, Microorganisms, Space Exploration, Sustainability, Microgravity, Radiation, Resource Utilization, Waste Management, Space Defense, Threat Mitigation