A mobile wastewater treatment system recently left NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and arrived at the University of North Dakota. This facility will test new technology designed to support astronauts on long missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Divergent Deployable Wastewater Treatment Facility can turn crew wastewater into valuable resources. At the university, students will connect this system to a simulation habitat that mimics conditions on other planetary surfaces. Researchers aim to see how well the facility performs in these settings and under real mission scenarios.
Luke Roberson from NASA emphasizes the importance of this project for future lunar living. He says, “As we look to establish a permanent presence on the Moon, we need systems that can handle wastewater efficiently, turning it into nutrients for plants and other uses.”
The system is housed in a compact trailer and includes three biological reactors, a vertical garden, and automated control software. This design allows the facility to travel easily between testing sites. Unlike traditional wastewater processes, this system keeps waste streams separate for more effective treatment. For example, it processes urine, hygiene water, and food waste differently, which benefits small crews facing concentrated waste.
Each waste type is treated in a specific bioreactor. Fecal and food waste go into an Anaerobic Phototrophic Membrane Bioreactor that produces nutrient-rich water. Urine is treated separately in a Suspended Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor, while graywater from washing is handled by a Membrane Aerated Biological Reactor. The result? Water suitable for reuse and crops that grow hydroponically.
At the University of North Dakota, a special setup is in place to separate waste at the source. This grants better control in sending waste to the right treatment systems. Dr. Ali Alshami’s team is also working on new membrane technologies to improve water recovery and system efficiency.
Dr. Alshami notes, “These tests will show how well the system can operate in a real mission and what training crews might need.” Such initiatives are vital for ensuring reliable systems for future space habitats.
This project aligns with NASA’s Bioregenerative Life Support Systems effort. The ultimate goal is to reduce reliance on supplies sent from Earth. Innovations like this could help recycle water, bolster crop production, and minimize waste storage needs in lunar or Martian habitats.
Additionally, NASA is exploring how recovered resources might support in-space manufacturing. For example, nutrient-rich water could nourish microbes that produce materials like lactic acid. This can eventually serve as a 3D printing binder using local materials, further extending the value of waste.
The move from NASA Kennedy to North Dakota represents a significant step in taking these technologies from the lab to practical testing. J.J. Edelmann from NASA highlights this, saying, “We are not just tackling wastewater; we’re working toward sustainable living on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.”
For more information about NASA’s exploration efforts, you can visit NASA’s official site.
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Artemis, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Kennedy Space Center, Missions, Moon Base, Research and Technology at Kennedy Space Center, Sustainability at Kennedy Space Center
