Waste management in a lunar base. Task 5: Summary report. A top-level system integration

摘要

Long term human habitation in space requires an autonomous life support system. An Engineered Closed Ecosystem (ECES) can provide autonomy through integration of the human module with the support plant and animal modules and a waste management system (WMS). The role of the WMS is to treat metabolic wastes (or output metabolic elements) for reuse. Achievement of the integration depends upon combining physical/chemical and biological subsystem into an engineered bioregenerative system. An operational bioregenerative life support system will lead to acceptable autonomy in space habitation by minimizing resupply from Earth. An effort was undertaken to develop a top-level system integration by identifying the interfaces and interactions among the human module, the support plant and animal modules, and the WMS. To achieve the integration the WMS must consist of the following three subsystems: (1) raw material sorting/storage; (2) raw material processing; and (3) processed materials storage/supply. In addition, the following support units are required: (1) control/monitoring (C/M) for each module and WMS subsystem; (2) backup storage/supply of input metabolic elements (or consumables); (3) nutrient recovery for the plant module; (4) nutrient backup storage/supply for plant module; (5) light for the plant module; and (6) residual waste storage/disposal.