For the record, the first solar cells (at about 1% efficiencies, or about 14 watts/m^2) were in the 1830s on earth.  The first practical industrial ones were 1954; by 1958 they were widely known for flying in space.

With quicklime known into antiquity and oxygen isolated before 1800 it’s not past credible that once electric motors are available in the 1830s one could do limited lifetime solar powered closed loop life support in space.  Submarines were doing that much much earlier than the 50s…

-George

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