Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
ERASMUS: Food Contact Safe Plastics Recycler and 3D Printer System
Project Description
One of the goals of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) from 2012 is to �utilize the ISS for developing the systems and protocols necessary to humans to venture beyond low Earth orbit for extended durations�, and with the push from Congress in 2015 to build a deep space habitat for a Mars mission by 2018, the goals of HEOMD are increasingly important to meet. ERASMUS will enable these goals by providing a technology suite which is both a trash recycling unit and a microbial sterilizer. The ERASMUS technology suite contains a plastics recycler, dry heat sterilizer, and 3D printer that accepts previously used utensils, trays, and food storage containers, sterilizes these pre-used materials, recycles them into food grade 3D printer filament, and fabricates food contact safe 3D printed parts. This effort intends to minimize the requirements for resupplying and/or storing excess wet wipes, utensils, food containers, and waste. It also intends to improve astronaut health and safety by providing utensils which are truly sterile and free of harmful contaminants for long duration missions. In the phase II effort, we will further enable the goals of HEOMD by expanding ERASMUS to provide a medical grade 3D printer.
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Anticipated Benefits
The proposed ERASMUS technology will find use on the ISS and on any future long duration manned mission as a means to promote astronaut health and safety as well as lowering mission cost and trash generated by providing a means to create needed parts while in space. TUI anticipates that the expansion of ERASMUS into medical grade 3D printing in the Phase II effort will further the need for ERASMUS on the ISS, long duration missions, and on manned habitats.
TUI expects that the advancements made to 3D printing in order to create food contact safe sterilized materials will be ideal for the DoD to support soldiers in remote locations where resupply is limited. We also anticipate this technology to be a game-changer for people with little access to water. In the Phase II, we plan to explore the possibility to extend the technology to medical grade 3D printing which will have an even more widespread impact across the globe and in space. Medical facilities will be able to print sterile implants and surgical tools on demand, rather than requiring storage or waiting for the delivery of these devices. More »
TUI expects that the advancements made to 3D printing in order to create food contact safe sterilized materials will be ideal for the DoD to support soldiers in remote locations where resupply is limited. We also anticipate this technology to be a game-changer for people with little access to water. In the Phase II, we plan to explore the possibility to extend the technology to medical grade 3D printing which will have an even more widespread impact across the globe and in space. Medical facilities will be able to print sterile implants and surgical tools on demand, rather than requiring storage or waiting for the delivery of these devices. More »
Project Library
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tethers Unlimited Inc | Lead Organization | Industry | Bothell, Washington |
Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Huntsville, Alabama |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
Washington
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