CES Pack

CES Packs (Closed Ecological System Packs) are a fundamental component of long-distance space travel life support systems.

Description & Characteristics
In order to provide breathable oxygen to a crew, ships could be outfitted to do one of two things: take a finite, though sufficient amount stored oxygen with them, or recycle materials into new oxygen on-board. Even using Hexafluorophosphate-based crystals for maximised oxygen storage, it still only provided oxygen for a fixed amount of time. Though this would be sufficient for short-range trips for a small crew, it failed to provide enough oxygen to large crews on deep space voyages. Instead, recycling carbon dioxide into new oxygen within the ship provides an extended supply for the crew, extending the operational range.

With the advent of gene manipulation technology in the early 21st century, bacteria and plants could be modified to express particular traits for enhanced function. This includes organisms such as Green algae and Nitrosomonas europaea, which are phototrophs and chemotrophs respectively. These autotrophic organisms form the basis of a closed ecological system, which can recycle CO2 into O2 through the absorption of light or the breakdown of ammonia.

These modified organisms are stored within small containers called CES Packs, containing a buffering solution to maintain the, which are plugged into internal systems around the ship, creating a decentralised system. This allows CES Packs to be connected throughout the ships and easily replaced when individual ones fail. Most ships typically use both phototroph-and chemotroph-based CES Packs, though some military ships use a larger number of chemotrophic packs to reduce their need to absorb light. While the original autotrophs are produced by a scientific manufacturing company, construction companies design the pack itself and its connections to the ship.

CES Packs are used alongside other oxygen recovery technologies, such as Carbon Dioxide Scrubbers, in order to maximise oxygen supplies on-board ships.

Core Components

 * Autotroph
 * CES Packs use either modified Green Algae or Nitrosomonas europaea in order to produce oxygen from light or ammonia respectively.


 * Buffer Solution
 * Each pack is filled with a buffer solution to sustain the organisms inside them, it prevents the internal conditions such as pH, temperature and water concentration from fluctuating.


 * Connector Port
 * Packs can be fitted into specialised ports to receive CO2 and light/ammonia and exchange O2 back into the life support system.

Notes & Trivia

 * The term "Closed ecological system" refers to an ecosystem which does not rely on matter exchange with any part outside the system. "CES Pack" is technically a misnomer as the packs exchange materials with the rest of the ship.