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

“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.

- Authors: Takashi Inada, Motoshi Kamada, Hayato Ohkuma, Toru Shimazu, Junya Kirima, Yasuyuki Kikuchi, Haruo Kasahara, Tomokazu Yamazaki, Kana Kuriyama, Eriko Moriyama et al.
- Published: October 29, 2026
- Field: Energy
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.27.762075
- Free PDF: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2026/10/29/2026.10.27.762075.full.pdf

## 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.

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