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CIRiS – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Space performs research and development related to manned spaceflight and crop cultivation in closed systems.

Main activities are related to research activities onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and crop cultivation in regulated environmental conditions, on Earth and in Space.

The International Space Station (ISS)

As a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), Norway is part of the giant, international project ISS. CIRiS contributes to research, development and remote control of equipment onboard the Space Station.





The International Space Station (ISS). Photo Credit: NASA

Our Control Centre – N-USOC (Norwegian User Support and Operations Centre) – is one of ESA's seven USOCs participating to the ISS program. Our experiments are controlled from ground and require thorough and accurate planning, development and testing, as well as specific procedures for and training of console personnel. Performing space station experiments demand advanced technology, communication and cooperation between the astronauts onboard the ISS, the ground segments and the different control centers located around the world. For more information see www.n-usoc.no.





The N-USOC Control Centre at Dragvoll, Trondheim. Photo Credit: CIRiS





Regenerative life support systems and agricultural research

A well-known challenge related to space exploration is the vast distances involved and the associated practical and economical challenges. In order to overcome some of these challenges new concepts have to be developed for provision of air, food and water to the astronauts. R&D at CIRiS focusses on developing new concepts and technologies for closed life support systems, where water and nutrition can be recycled and plant health can be continuously monitored. New solutions for crop cultivation in space will have great synergies with terrestrial food production.



In cooperation with research institutes and local farmers CIRiS performs projects for developing and implementing new technology within crop cultivation. Improved crops, improved production economy and more eco-friendly production are the main goals. Our work includes chemical, biological and microbial analyses of plant material, and we contribute to a better understanding of plant health and crop utilization through field and green house set-ups as well as access to research facilities with controlled environmental settings.









Greenhouse. Photo Credit: CIRiS