{"project":{"acronym":"PALEOS","projectId":94047,"title":"Plasma-Assisted Life and Ecological Operating System","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10684,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10682,"level":3,"code":"TX06.1.2","title":"Water Recovery and Management","definition":"Water recovery and management provides a safe and reliable supply of potable water to meet crew consumption and operational needs, including supply and storage, recycling, and management through dormant mission periods.","exampleTechnologies":"Wastewater collection, wastewater processing, brine processing, potable water microbial control","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":1,"currentTrl":3,"endTrl":3,"benefits":"
Currently, there does not exist a life support system capable of supporting deep space human proving ground missions or human missions to Mars. Plasma-based water processing offers the potential for high-value improvements in spacecraft water recovery; including, high efficiency oxidation of wastewater organics/improved ELCSS loop closure, a low temp/low pressure alternative to the Volatile Removal Assembly, improved brine quality/water recovery, wastewater and potable water disinfection/point of use processing. The effort could be a subset of a life support architecture that is scalable and generally applicable to a wide range of human mission. In this project, we have established a life support architecture that is scalable and generally applicable to a wide range of human missions. We have provided a sound footing for the plasma based approach by computationally determining efficiency and power requirements for various modules supporting everything from cabin atmosphere replenishment to food production on the surface of Mars.
","description":"Practical implementation of long-duration, human space missions will require robust, reliable, advanced life support systems. Such systems have been the subject of research since the dawn of human spaceflight.1 Once astronauts reach the surface, food and water in addition to a sustainable, breathable atmosphere are also a necessity. In situ resource utilization on the surface can greatly reduce launch mass requirements and greatly extend surface operation duration, allowing more detailed and longer duration expeditions. This effort aims to address both in-transit and surface operations life support needs for a notional human expedition to the Moon, Mars2 and beyond. At the center of this proposed life support system is nonthermal plasma as the active element. Recent advances in plasma science has enabled the application of cold plasmas for water purification, air quality control (e.g. indoor pollution), and enhanced agriculture. Electrical energy can be used to convert any atmosphere into a plasma-activated, reactive gas for the purpose of carbon dioxide breakdown and ultimate extraction of oxygen, the generation of reactive species to treat water to all for potable water recycling, the extraction of water from permafrost3, plasma treatment of seeds for enhanced yield, and the plasma treatment for water to infuse important nitrates into solution for enhanced growth (plasma agriculture).4 In the laboratory, these functions have been demonstrated. We stand at the precipice of the advancement of plasma technology that has the transformative potential to greatly both enable and simply life support systems for human spaceflight. Investment in this proposed effort is important in that it sounds the groundwork for a viable advanced life support system that is generic in application. The transportable technology can support deep space transit as well as surface operations. It only requires electrical power - power of which is used to drive electrons to support nonthermal, high selectivity chemical reactions without the need for consumables - rather it utilizes available raw materials as its feed stock firmly grounding the approach as an in situ utilization method. The goal is to show that plasma-based subsystems can form the basis for a life support system.
","destinations":[{"lkuCodeId":1544,"code":"MOON_AND_CISLUNAR","description":"Moon and Cislunar","lkuCodeTypeId":526,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"DESTINATION_TYPE","description":"Destination Type"}},{"lkuCodeId":1518,"code":"MARS","description":"Mars","lkuCodeTypeId":526,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"DESTINATION_TYPE","description":"Destination Type"}}],"startYear":2017,"startMonth":10,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":9,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":186794,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Isaiah","lastName":"Blankson","fullName":"Isaiah M Blankson","fullNameInverted":"Blankson, Isaiah M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"isaiah.m.blankson@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":335305,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Michael","lastName":"Lapointe","fullName":"Michael R Lapointe","fullNameInverted":"Lapointe, Michael R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"michael.r.lapointe@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":392233,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Richard","lastName":"Howard","fullName":"Richard W Howard","fullNameInverted":"Howard, Richard W","middleInitial":"W","primaryEmail":"richard.w.howard@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":280583,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Kurt","lastName":"Sacksteder","fullName":"Kurt R Sacksteder","fullNameInverted":"Sacksteder, Kurt R","middleInitial":"R","primaryEmail":"partialg@gmail.cpm","publicEmail":false,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":159449,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Gary","lastName":"Horsham","fullName":"Gary A Horsham","fullNameInverted":"Horsham, Gary A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"gary.a.horsham@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/innovation_fund/index.html#.VQb6gUjJzyE","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":53669,"projectId":94047,"transitionDate":"2018-09-01","path":"Closed Out","details":"This project has developed the engineering framework for future demonstration of plasma modules for life-support technologies. The current maturity is TRL 4. This work would involve validation of well tested models to assess capability and power requirements. The effort also sets the ground work for follow-on hardware demonstrations. These demonstration experiments include addressing recovery of liquid and solid wastes, recovery of micronutrients, the reuse of water, and enhancement in food production. With complementary University involvement the effort will advance laboratory apparatus into engineering models. The effort will also assist in training the next generation of scientists with foci on addressing Earth independent life support needs. Engineering models will be developed in a time frame such that they can be demonstrated in NASA Glenn Drop tower experiments ultimately leading to ISS flight demonstrations to further enhance design for reliability so that the technology can be applied to human missions to Mars and also Cis-Lunar proving ground missions.","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"September 2018"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"GRC CIF","active":true,"description":"Tthe goal of the Center Innovation Fund is to stimulate and encourage creativity and innovation in addressing the technology needs of NASA and the Nation. The GRC Center Innovation Fund is intended to provide GRC Civil Servants, potentially partnering with external organizations and other NASA Centers, with the opportunity to develop new ideas toward this goal, and to pursue their intellectual growth in areas that are deemed to be of strategic importance to the Center. The projects are high payback, highly innovative research proposals that could significantly impact future GRC programs.
","parentProgram":{"acronym":"CIF","active":true,"description":"
Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers.
","programId":64,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36643,"title":"Center Innovation Fund"},"parentProgramId":64,"programId":162,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36645,"title":"Center Innovation Fund: GRC CIF"},"leadOrganization":{"acronym":"GRC","canUserEdit":false,"city":"Cleveland","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4860,"organizationName":"Glenn Research Center","organizationType":"NASA_Center","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"OH","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Ohio","stateTerritoryId":23},"stateTerritoryId":23,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"},"supportingOrganizations":[{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"Ann Arbor","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":2900,"organizationName":"University of Michigan-Ann Arbor","organizationType":"Academia","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"MI","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Michigan","stateTerritoryId":34},"stateTerritoryId":34,"murepUnitId":170976,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Academia"}],"statesWithWork":[{"abbreviation":"OH","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Ohio","stateTerritoryId":23}],"lastUpdated":"2023-5-25","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":336,"endDateString":"Sep 2018","startDateString":"Oct 2017"}}