“A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS” (2026), by Takashi Inada et al. Energy research paper. Original abstract below, unchanged. A free PDF is available.

A Proof-of-Concept Study on Attached Spirulina Cultivation Under Microgravity and Partial Gravity Aboard the ISS

Takashi Inada, Motoshi Kamada, Hayato Ohkuma et al. · October 29, 2026 · Energy

Abstract

Microalgal attached cultivation circumvents gas-liquid separation issues of liquid-suspended cultivation, yet performance under reduced gravity remains unevaluated. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluated Arthrospira platensis ( Spirulina ) cultivation under artificial 1G, 1/6G, and microgravity (µG) on the International Space Station. Spirulina expanded without cell detachment, medium floating, or component separation, with relative radial growth rates of 0.28% 0.5 day -1 (1G), 0.22% 0.5 day -1 (1/6G), and 0.17– 0.21% 0.5 day -1 (µG), demonstrating feasibility in space.

Free PDF DOI: 10.64898/2026.10.27.762075