Urine Stabilization and Toilet Improvement

Recent events have shown the need for a simple, reliable urine stabilization method, along with a rethink of how NASA designs a space toilet. Promising results from a urine stabilization through resin test have opened a resin bed as a urine stabilization capability. The project would seek to expand the resin bed urine filtration testing and capabilities to figure out integration into Lunar systems. It would look at stabilization capabilities for short duration missions with urine storage, but also if a resin based toilet solution is possible. It would explore if, through a multi staged resin system, potable water could be created from raw urine.

If effective results are shown, a few hundred pounds of resin could replace approximately 1400 pounds of potable water for a 4 crew, 30 day mission through recycling. The system would cut down on significant launch mass if successful in consumable water usage by utilizing a short term regeneration system. The following KPPs are targeted: 1. Per NASA-STD-3001 V2: Bacterial Count < 50 CFU/ml, No detectable Coliform Bacteria per 100 ml, No detectable Fungal Count per 100 ml, and No detectable Parasitic Protozoa (e.g., Giardia and Cryptosporidium). 2. Conductivity: <1000 μS/cm (EPA recommendation) 3. Total Microbial growth: <50 CFU/ml

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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.