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CC21 NASA Waste Jettison Mechanism Challenge
Completed
Description
NASA studies have shown that unless 2-3 kilograms of space trash per person per day can be disposed of along the way, a Mars transit vehicle will be too heavy to complete the mission1. The most cost-effective, reliable and safest method to address this problem may be to simply jettison these materials from the spacecraft. This challenge seeks a system design to physically jettison waste products from the spacecraft with little to no preprocessing requirements. System designers will need to consider the characteristics of the waste products, how they exit the spacecraft, frequency and velocity of the jettisoned materials, and minimization of risk to the ship and crew. NASA will be interested to know the mass, power, volume and crew time requirements of a proposed system
NASA is seeking concepts for a jettison mechanism to eject non-recyclable material from a crewed spacecraft during transit to and from Mars NASA studies have shown that unless 2-3 kilograms of space trash per person per day can be disposed of along the way, a Mars transit vehicle will be too heavy to complete the mission1. The most cost-effective, reliable and safest method to address this problem may be to simply jettison these materials from the spacecraft. This challenge seeks a system design to physically jettison waste products from the spacecraft with little to no preprocessing requirements. System designers will need to consider the characteristics of the waste products, how they exit the spacecraft, frequency and velocity of the jettisoned materials, and minimization of risk to the ship and crew. NASA will be interested to know the mass, power, volume and crew time requirements of a proposed system.
Benefits
This challenge resulted in 5 winning entries (2 more than the initial goal). The entries offered novel and development-worthy concepts for a waste jettisoning mechanism that could operate in harmony with a manned spacecraft. These submissions and the relationships established with their creators will hopefully lead to further development of a prototype jettison launcher that uses insights or design principles gained from the winning entries.
Significantly Advanced Towards a Solution
Planned for future implementation
Technical Solution
Details
| Technology area | Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Habitation Systems > Waste Management |
| Program | Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing (PCC) |
| Lead organization | Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA |
| Start date | 2021-10-29 |
| End date | 2022-07-08 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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