The Importance and Utility of Ground-Based Testing of Solid Waste Processing Systems Designed for Eventual Use in Space

The degree of success of operating solid waste processing systems in space will be greatly enhanced and more readily achieved if the systems are extensively tested on Earth prior to deployment for testing in space. The paper discusses some of the key aspects that govern the design and operation of unit operations relevant to solid waste management in general, and specifically resource recovery in space, and how these aspects should be addressed in ground-based testing to minimize the time required to successfully deploy solid waste management systems in space. Much of the discussion and many of the recommendations revolve around the authors' experience in operating, testing, and evaluating waste processing systems.