Life support systems are made up of many different parts, as there is not just one thing needed to maintain life. Life support systems often include systems for maintaining correct temperature levels for people as well as oxygen and air pressure levels. Another part of the Life support system is the actual hull of the craft, will you need to protect your crew from specific kinds of radiation or impacts by space debris? Waste removal systems are also needed for long term space flight. What are you going to do with hair, finger nail clippings and dead skin cells.
Will you be using an open loop system where trash and supplies are taken to/from your vessel by another ship or will you be using a regenerative system where plants, fish and bacteria deal with your waste and produce fresh air and water in return? Will you use a biological recycling process with plants and fish solely or will you supplement it with chemical CO2 scrubbers and water filtration systems?
According to NASA the average person goes through about 5kg per day of food water and air to survive and function properly. Will you be storing and later disposing of this weight or will it be recycled in some way. Is your ship going to operate more like a modern submarine or more like a biosphere.
Will your life support system be total like on a space shuttle or a single space capsule or will it be segmented to allow for additions to the craft, is your ship going to be one big piece or many that are combined together?
The basic elements for life support systems are present in submarines and high altitude balloons not just space craft. Terrariums are an excellent and in expensive way to get started experimenting with life support systems. Can you engineer a terrarium that will keep a mouse or a guinea pig alive for several weeks after all cracks have been thoroughly sealed? Remember to find out how much your animal life will be consuming everyday (food, air and water) as well as how much your plant and bacterial life will be exchanging with it.
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