Publication year: 2011
Source: Advances in Space Research, Available online 8 October 2011
M.Yu. Saltykov, S.I. Bartsev, Yu.P. Lankin
Successfulness of any manned space mission directly depends on the reliability of Life Support System. Human life during far from the Earth long-term missions can be supported only by Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). The proper CELSS design and providing necessary level of CELSS reliability require adequate estimations of its reliability or stability. Conducted analysis shows that traditional ecological models underestimate the stability of natural ecosystems. To improve the adequacy of natural ecosystems description three models based on so called flexible metabolism are suggested. It is shown that this type of ecological modes describes natural ecosystems with respect of stability more adequately than traditional ones.