Biomanufacturing for Space Technology and Resource Utilization (BIO-STAR)

Ombra, a Florida-based Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), is developing the Biomanufacturing for Space Technology and Resource Utilization (BIO-STAR) system to support sustainable space exploration. BIO-STAR co-cultures the microorganisms Methanosarcina barkeri (M. barkeri) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) to convert waste and carbon dioxide into methane and other valuable resources, enhancing resource utilization for long-term missions. The University of Texas at Austin will lead co-culturing efforts, while Ombra focuses on optimizing bioreactor systems for deployment in microgravity. M. barkeri produces methane from acetate and CO?/H?, while E. coli is engineered to generate acetate or other intermediates. This anaerobic biomanufacturing system provides a sustainable approach to waste management by recycling gases into methane, which can be used for energy generation or propulsion, supporting both space defense and threat mitigation efforts. In Phase I, BIO-STAR will progress from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 to TRL 3 through microbial strain selection, system design, and bioreactor optimization to address the challenges of radiation and microgravity. Phase I outcomes will set the stage for advancing to TRL 4-9 with integrated testing and space deployment. BIO-STAR positions Ombra at the forefront of sustainable technologies, addressing resource limitations, waste conversion, and energy production in space environments.