Insects in bioregenerative life support systems: unlocking their role in space sustainability

Long-duration space missions and planetary colonization efforts will depend
on Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) for sustainable food production,
water recycling, and waste management. However, most BLSS research to date
has focused almost exclusively on plants, with limited attention to animals and
species-level ecological interactions. Here, we review 280 BLSS-focused studies
and identify significant underrepresentation of insects and invertebrates, despite
their multifunctional potential for nutrient recycling, protein production, and
ecological resilience. Only 13 studies experimentally included insects, and these
are rarely explored in interactions with other species in the system. Insects
such as Acheta domesticus, Tenebrio molitor and Bombyx mori show promise
but remain underexamined under space-relevant conditions. Comparisons with
terrestrial circular food systems reveal parallel knowledge gaps but also highlight
emerging evidence supporting invertebrates as integral components. We argue
that closing these gaps will require targeted research on insect physiology
and species interactions under space-like stressors such as microgravity and
radiation. Drawing on insights from Earth-based circular food systems can
accelerate the integration of multifunctional insect species into closed-loop
space habitats. Addressing these gaps is essential to create robust, resilient
bioregenerative systems that can support human life beyond Earth.