By Joe Pinkstone For Mailonline
Published: 18:47 BST, 9 May 2019 | Updated: 18:43 BST, 10 May 2019
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A bioreactor has been flown to the International Space Station (ISS) to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen using algae.
The lives of the astronauts on-board the ISS will not hinge on it working properly as it is an experiment to see if the concept is viable for long-duration spaceflight.
It is hoped one day it will be part of a 'closed-loop' system that can sustain missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.
Current trips are limited by what can be carried on rockets but the potential for a complete system would open up more opportunities for space travel.
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A bioreactor (pictured) has been flown to the International Space Station (ISS) to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen using algae. It is hoped one day it will be part of a 'closed-loop' system that can sustain missions to the moon, Mars and beyond
A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship brought the algal experiment to the ISS where it will be put through its paces.
Carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts will be turned into oxygen and edible biomass via photosynthesis from the Chlorella vulgaris.
Up to 30 per cent of the required food on a
