Investigation of Bio-Regenerative Life Support and Trash-to-Gas Experiment on a 4-Month Mars Simulation Mission

摘要: Future crewed missions to other planets or deep space locations will require regenerative Life Support Systems (LSS) as well recycling processes for mission waste. Constant resupply of many commodity materials not be a sustainable option missions, nor stowing trash on board vehicle at lunar Martian outpost. The habitable volume decline the waste increases. A complete environmentally controlled life support system (ECLSS) an extra-terrestrial outpost likely include physico-chemical and biological technologies, such bioreactors greenhouse modules. Physico-chemical LSS do enable food production bio-regenerative are stable enough used alone in space. Mission that cannot recycled into ECLSS can excess food, packaging, clothing, tape, urine fecal This sent converting high value products. Two crew members 120 day Mars analog simulation, collaboration with Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Trash Gas (TtG) project investigated semi-closed loop treated non-edible biomass logistical reduction conversion useful commodities. purpose this study is show how plant growth affects amount resources required by habitat spent material recycled. Real-time data was reactor KSC Florida replicating laboratory operation. paper discusses activity, management, power water consumption effects waste, potential energy techniques using KSC’s TtG technology.