TheSpringInstitute

Publications

For those at the cutting edge of science and technology, progress is measured and shared via peer-reviewed publications. The Spring Institute is committed to making our work accessible to all through open-source and open science publishing options whenever possible. If you are unable to access any of these manuscripts, please send us a note through our contact form and we will be happy to send you a copy.

The SCAMPI Project

Confirming that nitrogen cycling works as expected in micro-gravity by sending a self-sustaining shrimp aquarium to the International Space Station for a period and conducting genetic metabarcoding analyses on the microbial consortium.

  1.  Ben Slimane, T., Torchia, C., Grubbs, P., Galvan Lobo, J., Ropero, A., Alberto Rodriguez, J., Smith, J., Berger, A., & Roche, S. (2023). SCAMPI Project: Design of an Aquatic Closed Ecological System for Microgravity. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/94799
  2. <Genetics results pending upcoming mission>
  3. Grove, P., & Saetta, D. (2025). Shrimply Delicious: A Decision Framework for Space Aquaculture Species Selection. 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Prague. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20250004524

The Marshian Waste Treatment Wetland

Closing the food and waste loops by recycling sewage back into edible plants via an artificial wetland system.

  1.  Grove, P., & Fleischer, L. (2024). The Marshian: Conceptual Design of an Artificial Wetland for Waste Treatment on the Moon. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/98925
  2. Nasir, Ahsan. (2025). Simulation of hydrodynamics and contaminant transport in artificial wetlands for partial gravity applications. [Master's Thesis, Tallinn University of Technology & University of Liège]. Available here.

PLANT-B CubeSatellite Terrarium

An in-development mission to send a low-technology, self-sustaining terrarium into low-earth orbit to demonstrate the use of the greenhouse effect for growing plants in space.

  1.  Moumtaz, Y., Fleischer, L., Grubbs, P. (2023). Passive thermal control to maintain Earth-like temperatures inside a CubeSat. https://dl.iafastro.directory/event/IAC-2023/paper/77765/

Education & Outreach

Uplifting and inspiring the next generation of space explorers, researchers, and dreamers is a core part of our mission. 

  1. Ngarambe, D., Grubbs, P., Trepos, A., Bourlette, F., Ben Slimane, T., & Fleischer, L. (2023). A Constellation of Dreamers: Advancing Space Exploration through Democratization. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/94803
  2. Mazaré, N., Fleischer, L., Mourey, C., Irababarira, L., Kabagambe, B. (2025). Increasing Space Participation: Reviewing Two Years of Public Engagement within The Spring Institute for Forests on the Moon. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/102810