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Active TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 9)
Mars Campaign Office (MCO) Life Support Systems Wastewater Processing and Water Management project develops technologies to collect, store and process wastewater as well as manage the water recovered. Within an integrated life support system, water recovery systems provide water for use by various environmental control and life support functions on board the spacecraft. These functions may include drinking water, food re-hydration, water for crew hygiene, flush water for the spacecraft urinal, source water for oxygen generation, and, depending on the complexity of the life support system, water for crew shower and laundry. The wastewater streams that return from these uses and require treatment to be returned back to a potable state can include stabilized urine and flush water, humidity condensate, shower and laundry grey water, and water from carbon dioxide and wet-trash processing systems. The purpose of the water recovery system is to close the water loop by removing the contaminants associated with the various wastewater streams and then returning the balance of clean water back to the potable water bus in a stabilized form suitable for storage and reuse. This project is investigating the use of silver biocide to control water quality.
Silver Foam Doser is a passive silver ion releasing foam. It was developed as a way of metering the safe range of silver the crew can consume and still inhibit microbial growth in drinking water.
A biocide that does not have to be removed and can be safely consumed by the crew.
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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