NASA Environmental Systems Commercial Space Technology Center (ES CSTC) Overview Briefing by William J. Sheehan Sept.

1. NASAEnvironmental Systems Commercial Space Technology Center (ES CSTC) Overview BriefingbyWilliam J. SheehanSept. 25, 2002

4. Environmental SystemsCommercial Space Technology Center(ES CSTC) • Mission Statement • The mission of the NASA ES CSTC is to lead a national effort in developing environmental systems technologies that enhance space missions through cooperative efforts with NASA scientists and technologists, commercial companies, and academic researchers.

5. Environmental Systems Commercial Space Technology Center (ES CSTC) The goal of the ES CSTC is to work with NASA, academia and industry partners who are currently advancing the state of environmental systems in order to develop technologies that meet NASA’s needs for safe long-duration human spaceflight, while serving as a catalyst for commercial, terrestrial application of the technologies developed.

6. Technology Foci • Water Recovery • Solid Waste Recovery • Air Revitalization

7. ES CSTC Year 1 Strategy • Two UF pilot projects started • AO and RFPP Issued • 24 Pre-proposals received • External Peer Review of all • Top 2/3 reviewed by ETAC, CAC and prioritized • Full proposals requested on 6 • 3 of 6 full proposals funded

8. Lessons Learned from Year 1 • Open RFP Process inhibits other collaborations • Available funding did not match proposal requests • Commercial assessments awaited project selection • NASA funding availability varies with budget demands • Commercial success will require other methods of project selection

9. ES CSTC Year 2 Strategy • Outreach to other Universities • Outline dual mission • Solicit ideas for projects that meet the dual NASA mission • Evaluate the project proposals • Apply funding to proposals with highest potential for success

10. Ideal Project Structure • Innovative proposal within ES CSTC technical mission • Commercial application identified and realistic • Commercial Partner included on research team • Some form of cost sharing from university/com. partner • Advance agreement for sharing of commercial proceeds • Collaborative approach for addressing the dual technical and commercial mission of the ES CSTC

11. Guidelines to Consider • NASA Basic Tenets for Designers of Advanced Life Support Systems • Basic research not part of ES CSTC mission • Technology Readiness Level 3 or above • All proposals will receive a technical peer review • All proposals will be assessed for commercial realism • Collaborative proposals are the highest priority

12. ES CSTC Technical Focus Areas • Solid Waste Recovery• Water Recovery • Air Revitalization • Systems integration is essential • Research focus is mission dependent

13. Solid Waste Recovery Stabilization and processing for ALS resources recovery (e.g., N2, O2, H2O, etc.) Collecting and conditioning of waste material from anywhere in the crew habitat (vehicle or surface), including packaging, human wastes, inedible biomass, and brines from other subsystems such as the Water Recovery System Sterilization and storage of the waste, or reclamation of life support commodities, depending on the life support system closure and/or mission parameters (e.g., duration)

14. Solid Waste Recovery ALS Solid Waste Recovery Technology Needs 1) Maximized recoverable resources with minimal impacts to other systems 2) Long-term stabilization/storage of wet, dry, biodegradable and biohazardous wastes (e.g., heat sterilization, compaction, freeze drying, etc.) 3) Safe transport of a large variety of solid wastes in microgravity (includes solids handling, particle size reduction, slurry preparation, etc.) 4) End-to-end automation of a solid waste processor and improvements in monitoring and control for increased crew autonomy 5) Post-processing (including collection, post-treatment, stowage of non-useable products, etc.) technologies that eliminate undesirable by products (e.g., NO, SO2) 6) Reduced system mass, power and volume 7) Chemicals and microbial control (including odor control) for a closed environment

15. ES CSTC Technical Focus Areas • Solid Waste Recovery • Water Recovery • Air Revitalization • Systems integration is essential • Research focus is mission dependent

16. Mars Mission Systems View Biomass Production Food Consumption N/P/Mg Food Processing Separation Fibrous material Paper Production Grey Water Residue, CO2, Nutrient Water solids Cabin Air Solids Treatment urine Clean cabin air Residue Liquid Waste CH4 concentrator Air Treatment coarse fine Liquid Waste Treatment Potable H2O NH4+ O2 CO2 CH4 To Biomass Production struvite, H2O H2O H2 Waste EVA Electrolysis H2O =compost from solids digester

17. Water Recovery Biological and physicochemical systems for water recovery Technology Needs • 100% recovery of influent water • Elimination of expendables • Improved monitoring and control • Reduced Equivalent Systems Mass

18. Air Revitalization • Biological and physicochemical processes for maintaining cabin atmosphere • Fire detection and suppression Technology Needs • Improvements in monitoring and control • Efficient CO2 removal and O2 recovery • Reduced Equivalent Systems Mass

19. Researcher’s Advantages • Improved understanding of NASA’s problems, current foci, and past successes and failures • Collaboration with NASA scientists, industry, and faculty • Funding