🛰️ Oysters to purify water in space

Oysters to filter astronauts' water? That's the serious project of researchers at Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania. In collaboration with the startup Monolith Space, they are studying how these bivalves could play a key role in future expeditions, providing both drinking water and food.

Oysters are not the only creatures under examination: algae, mollusks, and fish are also on the list. The team is also interested in hydroponics, a method of growing plants in water. According to Jacob Scoccimerra, founder of Monolith, this research is unique among space food projects. To his knowledge, no oyster has yet traveled to space, but he hopes that will soon change.


One of the major obstacles is the lack of dedicated facilities aboard the International Space Station (ISS). A former aquatic habitat, capable of accommodating small fish, was removed in 2012 and was not suitable for oysters. Jacob Scoccimerra emphasizes that no current equipment is large enough for these organisms. That's why a new prototype has been developed: a closed-loop aquaculture system, specifically designed for marine organisms.

This prototype, a collaboration between Harrisburg University and Monolith, was presented in April 2026. It uses spat (baby oysters) and raises them to adulthood. The system is automated and controlled, and has already been installed at Monolith's facility in Washington D.C., where the oysters are fed and monitored continuously. This project is about one-third of the way toward being ready for a spaceflight, according to NASA's technology readiness levels.

NASA is closely monitoring this project, as the agency has ranked food and nutrition for the Moon and Mars as priorities. NASA experts have helped refine the system to meet launch requirements. The ultimate goal is to send a small experiment aboard the ISS or a future commercial space station. Jacob Scoccimerra clarifies that the obstacle is not so much technical as scientific: aquatic biology has been little studied in space compared to microbiology or human physiology.

Humans have been eating oysters for at least 100,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries in South Africa. This long history of cohabitation with these shellfish may well extend beyond our planet. If current research is successful, future lunar or Martian missions could benefit from this natural filtration system, combining simplicity and efficiency.

Biogenerative life support systems

These systems use living organisms to meet astronauts' needs for food, water, and oxygen. Unlike physicochemical methods (such as carbon filters or oxygen reserves), they rely on natural cycles. For example, plants can produce oxygen and food, while microorganisms or animals like oysters filter and purify water.

A major advantage is sustainability: these systems can operate in a closed loop, reducing dependence on resupplies from Earth. Current research focuses on robust and easy-to-maintain organisms. Integrating multiple species (fish, plants, shellfish) allows for a miniature ecosystem that is more resilient than a single solution.

The challenges are numerous, including disease control and adaptation to microgravity. But advances in this area could transform long-duration missions by providing greater autonomy. Oysters, with their ability to filter large volumes of water, represent a promising avenue for future space habitats.