The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), essential for sustaining life in environments like spacecraft and space stations, encompasses critical technologies such as air purification and water recycling. As a key factor in establishing a nation as a leader in space exploration and sustainable environmental technologies, ECLSS education is vital. It requires interdisciplinary knowledge across fields like chemistry, biology, and engineering, underscoring the need for specialized educational platforms. Training in ECLSS not only advances space exploration but also develops technologies for Earth's environmental challenges, making it crucial for companies across sectors and inspiring young talent in space and environmental technology. This study primarily explores the challenges and possibilities for improvement in ECLSS education at higher education institutions mainly focusing on the situation in Japan. It investigates laboratories focusing on ECLSS, existing educational programs at universities, Japanese textbooks related to ECLSS, and student circles, presenting the findings quantitatively. Additionally, as part of the case studies, successful national and international examples and best practices are introduced, along with an overview of the "ECLSS Study Group" led by a ECLSS researcher of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in March 2023 and the continuous activities carried out over a year, assessing their applicability to Japan's ECLSS education. The aim of this research is to provide an outlook on the future of ECLSS education all over the world, recognizing its current state and seeking paths to enhance its quality and approach.
Toma et al. (Sun,) studied this question.