This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Solid Waste Processing - An Essential Technology for the Early Phases of Mars Exploration and Colonization
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
Terraforming of Mars is the long-term goal of colonization of Mars. However, this process is likely to be a very slow process and conservative estimates involving a synergetic, technocentric approach suggest that it may take around 10,000 years before the planet can be parallel to that of Earth and where humans can live in open systems (Fogg, 1995). Hence, for the foreseeable future, any missions will require habitation within small confined habitats with high biomass to atmospheric mass ratios, thereby requiring that all wastes be recycled. Processing of the wastes will ensure predictability and reliability of the ecosystem and reduce resupply logistics.
Solid wastes, though smaller in volume and mass than the liquid wastes, contain more than 90% of the essential elements required by humans and plants. Two major elements that plants require (K and N) and a microelement (Boron) are not readily available or have not been detected on the surface of Mars and will need to supplied for crop production. These elements can be recovered from CELSS wastes by incineration, and thus they can be made available for crop production on Mars. If left unprocessed, CELSS wastes present a serious risk to human health. This paper describes the use of incineration technology to process solid wastes which ensures that the biogeochemical cycles of ecosystems are maintained, reliability of the closed life support system maintained and the establishment of the early processes necessary for the permanent presence of humans on Mars.
Recommended Content
Technical Paper | Planetary Protection Issues in the Human Exploration of Mars |
Technical Paper | European Lunar Base Concepts |
Technical Paper | Using Martian Resources for Life Support |
Authors
Citation
Wignarajah, K., Pisharody, S., Fisher, J., and Flynn, M., "Solid Waste Processing - An Essential Technology for the Early Phases of Mars Exploration and Colonization," SAE Technical Paper 972272, 1997, https://doi.org/10.4271/972272.Also In
References
- Banin, V. T. 1995 Resources from Near Earth Systems Jones J. B. University of Arizona Press Tucson, AZ
- Bates, M. Bubenheim, D. L. 1997 Applications of Process Control to Plant-Based Life Support Functions SAE Tech. Paper No. 972359
- Carden, J. L. Browner, R. 1982 Preparation and Analysis of Standardized Waste Samples for Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems NASA CR No. 166392 NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 75th 1994-1995 Lide D. R. Frederikse H. P. R. CRC Press Boca Raton, LA
- Fogg, M. J. 1995 Terraforming: Engineering Planetary Environments Society of Automotive Engineers Publication Warrendale, PA
- Garland J. L. Mackowiak, C. L. 1990 Utilization of the Water Soluble Fraction of Wheat Straw as a Plant Nutrient Source NASA Tech, Memo. No. 103497
- Garland J. L. Mackowiak, C. L. Sager J. C. 1993 Hydroponic Crop Production using Recycled Nutrients from Inedible Crop Residues ICES Tech. Paper No. 932173
- Hanford, A. J. 1997 Advanced Regenerative Life Support System Study JSC
- Henninger, D. L. Tri, T. O. Packham, N. J. C. 1996 NASA's Advanced Life Support System Human-rated Test Facility Adv. in Space Res. 18 1 2 223 232
- Lighty J. S. Burton, W. Sirdeshpande, S. Pershing, J. Brouwer, J. Kemp, G. Fisher, J. Pisharody, S. 1997 Waste Incineration for Resource Recovery in a Bioregenerative Life Support System SAE Tech Paper No. 972429
- Johnson Space Center 1995 Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations for Airborne Contaminants JSC No. 20584
- Mengel, K Kirkby, E. A. 1978 Principles of Plant Nutrition International Potash Institute Berne, Switzerland
- Owen, T. Bar-Nun, A. Kleinfeld, I. 1992 Possible Cometary Origin of Heavy Noble Gases in the Atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars Nature 358 43 46
- Paterson, M. Wignarajah, K. Bubenheim, D. 1996 Biomass Incineration as a Source of CO 2 for Plant Gas Exchange: Phytotoxicity Incinerator Derived Gas and Analysis of Recovered Evapotranspired Water, Life Support and Biospheric Science 3 4 121 127
- Stoker C. R. Gooding, J. L. Roush, T. Banin, A. Burt, D. Clark, B. C. Flynn, G. Gwynne, O. 1995 The Physical and Chemical Properties and the Resource Potential of Martian Surface Soils In Resources of Near Earth Space Lewis J. S. Mathis M. S. Guerriri M. L. University of Arizona Press Tucson, AZ
- Tenhunen, J. D. Hesketh, J. D. Gates, D. M. 1980 Leaf Photosynthetic Models In Predicting Photosynthesis for Ecosystem Models 1 Hesketh J. D. Jones J. W. CRC Press Boca Raton, LA
- Upadhye, R. S. Wignarajah, K. Wydeven, T. 1993 Incineration for Resource Recovery in a Closed Ecological Life Support Systems Environ. Int. 19 381 392
- Wignarajah, K. 1995 Mineral Nutrition of Plants 193 221 In Handbook of Plant and Crop Physiology Pessarakli M. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York, NY
- Wignarajah, K. Bubenheim D. L. 1997 Integration of Crop Production with CELSS Waste Manangement Adv. in Space Res
- Wydeven, T. Golub, M. A. Generation Rates and Chemical Composition of Waste Streams in a Typical Crewed Space Habitat NASA Tech, Memo. No. 102799