Biospherics and Biosphere 2, mission one (1991-1993)

This paper outlines concepts, construction and operation of Biosphere 2, th e large glass closed life facility in the mountains of southern Arizona, US A. Plans used concepts of systems ecology and biospherics from the early wr itings of V.I. Vernadsky, work of the Russian space program on closed ecolo gical life support systems and other leading proponents of a total systems approach to ecology. Mission one was the first experimental closure of Bios phere 2 with eight crew members for 2 years, 1991-1993. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.