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Direct osmotic concentration (DOC) is an integrated membrane treatment process designed for the reclamation of spacecraft wastewater. The system includes forward osmosis (FO), membrane evaporation, reverse osmosis (RO) and an aqueous phase catalytic oxidation (APCO) post-treatment unit. This document describes progress in the third year of a four year project to advance hardware maturity of this technology to a level appropriate for human rated testing. The current status of construction and testing of the final deliverable is covered and preliminary calculations of equivalent system mass are funished.

This study introduces new concepts in the function and placement of membrane based water treatment processes in Exploration Life Support (ELS) System design. These differences are in both form and function and have the potential to radically alter the current paradigms of thought within the ELS research community with regards to the limitations of conventional membrane water treatment. More importantly, they have the potential to change the placement of water processing by quite literally moving it “out of the box”, or in the case of ELS, the standard rack volume. Two possible systems, extremely small scale personal urine treatment and recycle (CEV Lightweight Contingency Water Treatment) and a similar but scaled up habitat wall embedded membrane water treatment pouch, are used to demonstrate the concepts involved.

This paper compares four potential water treatment systems in the context of their applicability to a Mars transit vehicle mission. The systems selected for evaluation are the International Space Station system, a JSC bioreactor-based system, the vapor phase catalytic ammonia removal system, and the direct osmotic concentration system. All systems are evaluated on the basis of their applicability for use in the context of the Mars Reference Mission. Each system is evaluated on the basis of mass equivalency. The results of this analysis indicate that there is effectively no difference between the International Space Station system and the JSC bioreactor configurations. However, the vapor phase catalytic ammonia removal and the direct osmotic concentration systems offer a significantly lower mass equivalency (approximately 1/7 the ISS or bioreactor systems).

This paper provides an assessment of the technical readiness of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal Process (VPCAR). The VPCAR technology is a fully regenerative water recycling technology designed specifically for applications such as a near term Mars exploration mission. The VPCAR technology is a highly integrated distillation/catalytic oxidation based water processor. It is designed to accept a combined wastewater stream (urine, condensate, and hygiene) and produces potable water in a single process step which requires no regularly scheduled re-supply or maintenance for a 3 year mission. The technology is designed to be modular and to fit into a volume comparable to a single International Space Station Rack (when sized for a crew of 6). This paper provides a description of the VPCAR technology and a summary of the current performance of the technology.

The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) technology has been previously discussed as a viable option for the Exploration Water Recovery System. This technology integrates a phase change process with catalytic oxidation in the vapor phase to produce potable water from exploration mission wastewaters. A developmental prototype VPCAR was designed, built and tested under funding provided by a National Research Announcement (NRA) project. The core technology, a Wiped Film Rotating Device (WFRD) was provided by Water Reuse Technologies under the NRA, whereas Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International performed the hardware integration and acceptance test of the system. Personnel at the Ames Research Center performed initial systems test of the VPCAR using ersatz solutions. To assess the viability of this hardware for Exploration Life Support (ELS) applications, the hardware has been modified and tested at the MSFC ECLS Test Facility.

The study of life in extreme environments provides an important basis from which we can undertake the search for extraterrestrial life. This paper provides a description of a program focused on developing technologies which are necessary to evaluate the potential for the existence of a deep sub-seafloor biosphere.

The paper presents a brief summary of results from a Delphi forecast focused on North American Auto industry philosophies, practices, and tools for various phases of the product- development process, and their impact on cost, quality, and design lead time. The forecasting technique is a systematic, iterative method of forecasting based upon the judgement of a panel composed of knowledgeable experts. The study provides a snapshot of current expectations for the product development process, including the use of computer aided design tools, design methodologies, strategies, tools, and design education/training. The paper highlights issues pertaining to product cycle time, organizational barriers, supplier's role and globalization challenges.

Renewable energy sources and their integration with other power sources to support remote communities is of interest for Mars applications as well as Earth communities. The NSF, NASA, and DOE have been jointly supporting development of a 100 kW cold weather wind turbine through grants and SBIR's independently managed by each agency but coordinated by NASA. The NSF grant is specific to address issues associated with the South Pole Application and a 3 kW direct drive unit is currently being tested there in support of the development of the 100 kW unit. An NREL contract is focused on development of the 100 kW direct drive generator. The NASA SBIR is focused on development of the 100 kW direct drive wind turbine.

The Rotating Disk Analytical System (R-DAS) is an in-situ, bio-analytical technology, which utilizes a micro-fluidic disk with similar form factor as an audio compact disc to enhance and augment microgravity-based cellular and molecular biology research. The current micro-fluidic assay performs live cell/dead cell analysis using fluorescent microscopy. Image acquisition and analysis are performed for each of the selected microscope slide windows. All images are stored for later download and possible further post analysis. The flight version of the R-DAS will occupy a double mid-deck shuttle locker or one quarter of an ISS rack. The control system for the R-DAS consists of a set of interactive software components. These components interact with one another to control disk rotation, vertical and horizontal stage motion, sample incubation, image acquisition and analysis, and human interface.

The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) Technology has undergone long duration testing at MSFC. The results of this testing revealed several areas in which the VPCAR Technology could be improved and those improvements are summarized here. These improvements include the replacement of several parts with units that are more durable, redesign of several pieces which proved to have mechanical weaknesses, and incorporation of some new designs in order to prevent other potential problems.

The objective of this work was to determine if chemoautotrophic organisms exist in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents, specifically organisms that have the capability to utilize non-solar electromagnetic radiation. The discriminating criteria used to make this determination was the existence of, or lack of, chlorophyllic compounds in these organisms. Work conducted to this point indicates that pigment containing microbial species does exist within the hydrothermal vent microenvironment. Furthermore, it does appear that at least some of these pigments are bacteiochlorophylls. A question still remains unanswered, that is, are these organisms indigenous to the vent community or debris from surface environments?

The purification of waste water is a critical element of any long-duration space mission. The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) system offers the promise of a technology requiring low quantities of expendable material that is suitable for exploration missions. NASA has funded an effort to produce an engineering development unit specifically targeted for integration into the NASA Johnson Space Center's Integrated Human Exploration Mission Simulation Facility (INTEGRITY) formally known in part as the Bioregenerative Planetary Life Support Test Complex (Bio-Plex) and the Advanced Water Recovery System Development Facility. The system includes a Wiped-Film Rotating-Disk (WFRD) evaporator redesigned with micro-gravity operation enhancements, which evaporates wastewater and produces water vapor with only volatile components as contaminants. Volatile contaminants, including organics and ammonia, are oxidized in a catalytic reactor while they are in the vapor phase.

NASA is currently developing two new human rated launch systems. They are the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and the Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM). Both of these spacecraft will require new life support systems to support the crew. These life support systems can also be designed to reduce the mass required to keep humans alive in space. Water accounts for about 80% of the mass required to keep a person alive. As a result recycling water offers a high return on investment. Recycling water can also increase mission safety by providing an emergency supply of drinking water. This paper evaluates the potential benefits of two wastewater treatment technologies that have been designed to reduce the mass of the CEV and LSAM missions. For a 3 day CEV mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this approach could reduce the mass required to provide drinking water by 65% when compared to stored water. For an 18 day Lunar mission a mass savings of 70% is possible.

Direct osmotic concentration (DOC) is a membrane treatment process for reclamation of space craft wastewater. It incorporates a novel system architecture that includes a forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO) subsystem for hygiene (gray) water, and a membrane distillation subsystem for the treatment of urine and humidity condensate. The products of these subsystems are combined and then post-treated by a catalytic oxidation subsystem. This paper documents progress made during the second year of a three year Rapid Technology Development Team (RTDT) effort.

For wastewater treatment applications, membrane processes are known to provide excellent treatment but are subject to failure due to membrane fouling. The Direct Osmotic Concentration (DOC) system evaluated in this study provides a membrane based primary treatment process capable of overcoming this problem. A full scale test apparatus containing full scale test module membrane cells has been developed and has undergone preliminary testing that provides a basis for comparison with other primary water recycle process concepts. This study confirms and extends the initial testing of this hardware and determines the required improvements to the existing test mo dules. These improvements, in addition to future testing, are intended to complete the validation of the concept and mature the hardware to the point that human rated test equipment design and development can be based directly on the test module derived data.

The Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) system is being developed to recycle water for future NASA Exploration Missions. Testing was recently conducted on NASA's C-9B Reduced Gravity Aircraft to determine the microgravity performance of a key component of the VPCAR water recovery system. Six flights were conducted to evaluate the fluid dynamics of the Wiped-Film Rotating Disk (WFRD) distillation component of the VPCAR system in microgravity, focusing on the water delivery method. The experiments utilized a simplified system to study the process of forming a thin film on a disk similar to that in the evaporator section of VPCAR. Fluid issues are present with the current configuration, and the initial alternative configurations were only partial successful in microgravity operation. The underlying causes of these issues are understood, and new alternatives are being designed to rectify the problems.

One of the key questions addressed in the field of Astrobiology is based upon the assumption that life exists, or at one time existed, in locations throughout the universe. However, this assumption is just that, an assumption. No definitive proof exists. On Earth, life has been found to exist in many diverse environments. We believe that this tendency towards diversity supports the assumption that life could exist wherever environmental conditions are right to support it. There are several locations within our Solar System which might support environments which are conducive to life. However, to conclusively establish the existence of life in such locations we must be capable of sensing generic life forms. This paper provides a summary of several innovative techniques based on the use of fluorescent analysis for the direct detection of extraterrestrial life forms.

The initial development effort is described for an electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generator and pervaporation module capable of producing and delivering hydrogen peroxide to a contaminated waste water stream as an oxidant or to a pure water stream for use as a disinfectant. A three chambered cell is used to generate hydrogen peroxide by a combined electrodialysis and electrochemical process. Each chamber is separated from its neighbor by a membrane allowing selective production of peroxide anions and hydrogen ions under controlled pH conditions followed by migration to form hydrogen peroxide. Concentrations greater than 6,500mg/L have been produced in this manner. The effects of voltage, pH, membranes, electrode materials, and method of oxygen introduction are delineated. Hydrogen peroxide is then transferred to the end-use stream by pervaporation. The impact of pH, relative flow rates, and ionic strength of sink and source solutions on pervaporation rates is detailed.

One of the largest single mass penalties required to support the human exploration of Mars is the surface habitat structural mass. Reducing the amount of structural material that must be launched from Earth to provide a habitat will reduce the cost of future missions. This paper describes the use of physical chemical technologies to produce high-density polyethylene for use as structural/construction materials from Mars atmospheric carbon dioxide. The formation of polyethylene from Mars carbon dioxide is based on the use of the Sabatier and modified Fischer Tropsch reactions. The system describe can be fully integrate with planned Mars in situ propellant production concepts.