Significance of Biological Design-based Strategies Towards Sustainability and Security in Space Biology Research: A Partial Taxonomy and Exploration

Abstract

Biological design offers a promising framework for addressing the sustainability and security challenges associated with long-duration space exploration. By drawing upon biological principles such as resource cycling, modularity, hierarchical feedback, self-repair, and adaptive response, biological design can support the development of regenerative life-support systems, resilient infrastructure, and closed-loop operational architectures beyond Earth. As biological and digital systems become increasingly integrated within future mission environments, however, new cyberbiosecurity challenges emerge at the interface between living systems, automation, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical infrastructure. This perspective paper examines the role of biological design in advancing sustainable and secure space biology. Through an exploratory review of relevant literature and the development of a partial taxonomy of biological design domains, the paper evaluates applications including autonomous biosafety, space bioprocess engineering, in-situ biomanufacturing, biologically grown architecture, and astro-ecological systems. Particular attention is given to Digital-to-Biological Attack Vectors, defined as pathways through which compromise of digital systems may produce unintended biological consequences within mission-critical environments. The paper offers the consideration that biological design should be considered as a sustainability strategy as well as a cyberbiosecurity imperative for future deep-space missions. By integrating biological resilience with secure digital architectures, biological design can contribute to the development of adaptive, regenerative, and cyber-resilient extraterrestrial ecosystems capable of supporting long-term human presence beyond Earth.