MELiSSA Program Launched by ESA

MELiSSA Program Launched by ESA

In August 1987, an unusual delivery arrived at a hotel room in Beijing. A very simplified ecosystem limited to 2 microbial strains was sent on a five-day microgravity trip on a Chinese capsule. The algae survived the journey, and the idea behind the MELiSSA loop started to take shape. In 1989 the first contract was given that marked the launch of MELiSSA.