The more we dream of Moon colonization and flight of man to Mars, the more relevant is the whole experience of Russian science. And even not Russian, but Soviet science.

As to Mars, for example, there are two (let alone thousands of others) huge problems. The first is radiation and the second is life support system.

Few people know that the second problem was solved as early as in the 80s of the last century in Krasnoyarsk. It was then that a closed circulatory system BIOS-3 was created, allowing one to survive at least 6 months without supplies and special equipment. The system is based on higher plants and algae which provide water and food (bread, potatoes, vegetables etc.) and clean the air. So, to regenerate the air per person weighing 70 kilograms, 2 kilograms of algae is enough.

Where is this technology now? One of its founders, Soviet and Russian biophysicist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the scientific direction of biophysics at the Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS, Iosif Gitelzon, answers the question in his interview to the newspaper Poisk.