Browsing by Author "Sandvik, Elizabeth"
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Item Biofilm Management in a Microgravity Water Recovery System(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Carter, Donald; Sandvik, Elizabeth; Stewart, Phil; Goeres, Darla; Sturman, Paul; Li, Wenyan; Johnson, Alexander; Cioanta, IulianBiofilm growth continues to be a significant concern for NASA�s current and future water systems. The International Space Station (ISS) Water Processor Assembly (WPA) produces potable water from a combination of humidity condensate and urine distillate. The WPA waste tank requires significant management to prevent biofilm growth from impacting downstream components. This issue is magnified for future NASA manned missions due to the need to place the vehicle�s life support system in a dormant state during uncrewed operations (e.g., when vehicle is in Mars orbit during surface mission). NASA personnel and the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University are evaluating various methods for mitigating biofilm growth, including reduced nutrient levels, thermal treatment, ultrasonic treatment, and identifying effective biocides in this application. This paper provides an overview of the current status on this effort.Item Ground Test Validations for Uncrewed Dormancy Preparation and Recovery(2024 International Conference on Environmnetal Systems, 2024-07-21) Beitle, Eric; McCormick, Robert; McCall, Shannon; Sandvik, Elizabeth; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Williamson, JillIn future long-duration space flight and habitation missions, periods of uncrewed dormancy where life support systems are shutdown or in low power modes will occur. To examine the impacts of these dormant periods in water recycling systems, along with potential pre- and post-dormancy procedures, Marshall Space Flight Center has been building up an uncrewed dormancy test stand. The uncrewed dormancy test stand will include a urine separator from the Universal Waste Management System, a condensate separator, urine filter, brine filter and distillate filter. In conjunction to the test stand, the Center for Biofilm Engineering has been comparing effects of simulated shutdown procedures on microbial survival and material compatibility during dormancy and regrowth when systems resume operation. This publication will serve as an update on the test stand construction, including a description of the current lower fidelity versions of the urine and condensate separators being produced. It will also examine dormancy work being conducted by CBE and discuss how this may factor into procedures tested on the uncrewed dormancy test stand.