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Can an entire ecosystem thrive in space? SCAMPI, a student-led mission, will investigate how a self-sustaining community of shrimp, algae and microorganisms responds to the unique conditions of microgravity, helping advance research into sustainable life-support systems for future exploration.
A tiny world bound for space
Launched in October 2026 on SpaceX CRS-35 to the International Space Station (ISS), SCAMPI (Saltwater Crustaceans, Algae, and Microbial Population Investigation) will investigate how an entire ecosystem behaves in space, addressing a key question for future exploration: can a complete living ecosystem survive and function in microgravity? Developed, built and tested by 51 students from 11 institutions across Europe and the United States under the ESA Academy Experiments Programme, the project provides hands-on experience across the full lifecycle of a real space mission, from design and integration to testing and operations, helping prepare the next generation of space professionals.
More than just shrimp
The experiment consists of a sealed aquatic ecosystem containing Halocaridina rubra shrimp, macroalgae, and millions of microorganisms. Together, these organisms form a self-sustaining community of producers, consumers, and decomposers that continuously recycle nutrients without material input from the outside environment. Inspired by closed “ecosphere” systems that can survive for years on Earth, SCAMPI investigates how these biological interactions are affected by the space environment.
Understanding life support for deep space
Unlike many previous space biology experiments that focus on individual organisms, SCAMPI studies an entire ecosystem. The project aims to improve our understanding of bioregenerative life support systems, which could one day help astronauts recycle air, water and food during long-duration missions beyond Earth orbit. The mission also builds upon the work of ESA’s MELiSSA programme by examining ecosystem-level responses to spaceflight rather than the behaviour of isolated species.
Science on ICE Cubes
The payload will operate autonomously for approximately 90 days as an aisle payload, hosted external to the ICE Cubes Facility, connected to Laplace, requiring no astronaut intervention. Throughout the mission, onboard imaging monitors the ecosystem’s evolution in orbit. Following its return to Earth, researchers will perform detailed microbial and genetic analyses to assess the impact of microgravity on both the ecosystem as a whole and its individual inhabitants.
While compact in size, SCAMPI has the potential to contribute valuable knowledge towards the development of sustainable life-support systems for future exploration missions, bringing us one step closer to maintaining Earth’s living systems beyond our home planet.
Project partners
SCAMPI is a student-led project conducted under the ESA Academy Experiments Programme and managed by The Spring Institute for Forests on the Moon, bringing together 51 students from 11 institutions including Politecnico di Torino, École Polytechnique, ISAE-SUPAERO, IPSA, École d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN, Utrecht University, TU Delft, University of Rome Tor Vergata, University of Pavia, and the University of Arizona.
The mission is supported by ESA Academy, CNES, Thales Alenia Space, SeaChem Laboratories, Cathelain and Colossal Biosciences. Through the ICE Cubes Service as implementation partner, the team benefited from payload integration support, including safety and security certification, as well as accommodation and in-orbit operations aboard the Columbus module of the ISS.
Explore the links and related articles below to learn more about the project and other similar investigations.
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