An Assessment of Waste Processing/Resource Recovery Technologies for Lunar/Mars Life Applications

921271

07/01/1992

Event
International Conference On Environmental Systems
Authors Abstract
Content
NASA's future manned missions to explore the Solar system are by nature of long duration, mandating extensive regeneration of life support consumables from wastes generated in space-based habitats. Long duration exploration missions would otherwise be prohibitive due to the number and frequency of energy-intensive resupply missions from Earth. Resource recovery is therefore a critical component of the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). In order to assess resource recovery technologies for CELSS applications, the Crew and Thermal Systems Division at NASA-Johnson Space Center convened a three-day workshop to assess potential resource recovery technologies for application in a space-based CELSS. Ninety experts from government, industry and academia attended the workshop. This paper describes the methodology of assessing and ranking of these technologies. Recommendations and issues are identified. Evaluations focused on the processes for handling and treatment of inedible plant biomass, human waste, and human generated trash. Technologies were assessed on the basis of safety, reliability, technology readiness and performance characteristics.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/921271
Pages
15
Citation
Verostko, C., Packham, N., and Henninger, D., "An Assessment of Waste Processing/Resource Recovery Technologies for Lunar/Mars Life Applications," SAE Technical Paper 921271, 1992, https://doi.org/10.4271/921271.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Jul 1, 1992
Product Code
921271
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English