Astronauts require the same basic necessities that people on Earth need to survive. They need nutritious food, clean water, fresh oxygen and suitable facilities to manage waste. The space environment presents many unique challenges in addressing these basic needs including the confined surroundings inside the spacecraft and the effects of microgravity.

Future exploration missions will involve smaller spacecraft and longer durations of spaceflight. NASA is identifying and developing new technologies to maintain the health and safety of the crews on these missions.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center is developing critical technologies for the Exploration Life Support (ELS) Project, which is part of the Environmental Control and Life Support Project. The ELS Project is managed by Johnson Space Center and is supported by several other NASA centers and the National Center for Space Exploration Research.

The ELS Project consists of three sub-projects that Glenn is supporting through concept testing and analysis.

Water Recovery System involves recycling fluid such as urine into water that is safe enough to drink or use for maintaining personal hygiene. However, it is difficult to control the flow of water inside a reclamation system in low or partial gravity. Glenn is testing gravity-dependent systems to help resolve operational issues.

Image: Water recovery system rig tested on NASA's reduced gravity aircraft.

Air Revitalization System involves storing liquid oxygen (LOX) tanks and keeping them cold for extended periods of time. LOX tanks are smaller and lighter than pressurized storage tanks, which will increase the flexibility of the mission. Also, methods of reducing, sensing and removing dust from the air supply are also being addressed.

Image: Design for potential LOX system.

Waste Management System primarily focuses on the development of an improved space toilet that will be small enough to comfortably fit inside the Orion crew exploration vehicle. (Toilets currently in use on Space Shuttle and Space Station are too large for Orion.) The new toilet is in the concept stage and has a fecal collection bag attached to the bottom of a standard toilet seat. As waste collects in the bag, a hose that is attached to the side of the bag sucks the air out of the bag to keep the waste inside. Finally, the bag is removed from the seat and suction is applied to seal the bag of waste.

Image: Design for new space toilet.

 

Contact at NASA Glenn Research Center
Chief,  Advanced Capabilities Project Office: Ann P. Over
Space Flight Systems Directorate / Advanced Flight Projects Office
216-433-6535