The water cycle is an important part of the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). It involves the supply of drinking water and plant irrigation water, and the recycling of urine, sanitary waste water, and air condensate water. Using urine and sanitary wastewater for plant irrigation is an effective form of wastewater reuse, but there are three main challenges.

Firstly, some salt content in wastewater, especially sodium chloride, is high, but it is not necessary for plant growth and may inhibit plant growth.

Secondly, the wastewater contains organic components such as surfactants, which also have a negative impact on plant growth.

Thirdly, if wastewater is used as the main nutrient source, the proportion of mineral elements in wastewater might be inconsistent with the proportion the plant growth needs, which will also affect the normal growth of plants.

The Orion spacecraft on the Artemis I mission is carrying, as part of the MARE experiment, two human "phantoms" equipped with numerous cosmic rays detectors. The information gathered by the detectors will for the first time verify the knowledge, crucial for the presence of humans in deep space, of the effects of cosmic rays on the health of the astronauts who are to live and work in an environment devoid of the protective effects of our planet's magnetosphere.

Of the numerous dangers lurking for astronauts undertaking long-distance space travel, among the most serious and at the same time the most difficult to eliminate, is exposure to harmful doses of cosmic radiation. Data collected during the MARE experiment (MATROSHKA AstroRad Radiation Experiment) will help ensure the safety of future deep space pioneers.

After 908 days in low Earth orbit, a small package on board the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6 has come home to the delight of some biological scientists. Soon they will open an aluminum alloy container that holds samples of plant seeds that they hope can be used to sustain astronauts on long duration missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Officially, it is known as a SEER experiment, short for Space Environment Exposure Research, a pathfinder mission supported by NASA's Biological and Physical Sciences Division (BPS) in collaboration with the US Air Force.

Unofficially, they're referred to as the "Thrive in Space" experiments—a way to underscore the stepping-stone research that scientists are undertaking to help advance their fundamental understanding of what it takes to grow and protect plants beyond our planet.