The MELiSSA pilot plant at the University Autònoma of Barcelona, Spain. The facility was inaugurated on 4 June 2009 by Spanish Minister for Science and Innovation Cristina Garmendia, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and University rector Ana Ripoll.
MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) is investigating ways of producing food, water and oxygen on long manned space missions with limited supplies. The goal is to support the human exploration of the Solar System, as well as meeting pressing challenges on Earth.