Toward sustainable living in space: A review of environmental control and life support system technologies

As humanity prepares for long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, sustainable human presence in space will depend on Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) that are more autonomous, efficient, and resilient than current implementations. This review synthesizes recent advances across the major domains of ECLSS—atmosphere revitalization, water recovery, food production, thermal control, and waste management—drawing on more than 270 peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and mission documents published between 2000 and 2025. Both physicochemical and bioregenerative approaches are evaluated, with particular attention to their respective strengths, limitations, and technology readiness levels. Special emphasis is placed on hybrid architectures that combine the robustness of physicochemical systems with the regenerative capability of biological processes, and on the growing role of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) in reducing dependence on Earth-based resupply. The review identifies critical challenges, including microgravity-induced inefficiencies, radiation-driven material and biological degradation, system-scaling and integration barriers, and the ethical and operational implications of synthetic biology. It also highlights emerging research frontiers such as AI-driven autonomy, modular redundancy, partial-gravity adaptive design, and closed-loop agricultural systems. By reframing ECLSS not merely as “life support” but as “life sustainability,” this review outlines a pathway for transitioning from short-duration survival missions to resilient, self-sufficient extraterrestrial settlements. The insights presented here have significance not only for future space exploration but also for advancing sustainable, closed-loop resource management strategies on Earth.