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Bioregenerative vs Chemical Life Support

Compare a chemical LiOH-canister life-support loop against a bioregenerative algae/plant loop: watch consumable mass climb for the chemical side while the bioregenerative side ramps into a self-sustaining steady state, tunable by mix ratio, light availability, crew size and mission length.

Space & Astronomy2DEasy60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

Spacecraft life-support innovation is largely a choice between two ways of handling CO₂ and O₂: burn through consumables, or grow a closed loop. This simulator charts that trade directly — a chemical LiOH-canister/O₂-tank system whose mass climbs in a straight line for as long as the mission runs, against a bioregenerative algae/plant loop that takes time to ramp up but then holds a steady, light-dependent share of the load without consuming more mass. Set the mix ratio, light availability, crew size and mission duration to see when a bioregenerative share actually pays off in carried mass, and when limited light leaves a shortfall that chemical backup still has to cover.

⚙ Under the hood

Compare bioregenerative algae systems to chemical LiOH canisters. Algae mass grows linearly while canister mass decreases in a steady loop.

life supportbioregenerative systemsclosed loop systems

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install