Comparing Trash Disposal to Use as Radiation Shielding for a Mars Transit Vehicle

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dc.creatorEwert, Michael
dc.creatorBroyan, James
dc.creatorSemones, Edward
dc.creatorGoodliff, Kandyce
dc.creatorChai, Patrick
dc.creatorSingleterry, Robert
dc.creatorAbston, Lee
dc.creatorClowdsley, Martha
dc.creatorWittkopp, Charles
dc.creatorVitullo, Nicholas
dc.date.accessioned2017-07-07T16:37:12Z
dc.date.available2017-07-07T16:37:12Z
dc.date.issued2017-07-16
dc.descriptionMichael Ewert, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), USA
dc.descriptionJames Broyan, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), USA
dc.descriptionEdward Semones, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), USA
dc.descriptionKandyce Goodliff, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionPatrick Chai, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionRobert Singleterry, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionLee Abston, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionMartha Clowdsley, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionCharles Wittkopp, NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), USA
dc.descriptionNicholas Vitullo, Analytical Mechanical Associates, USA
dc.descriptionICES506: Human Exploration Beyond Low Earth Orbit: Missions and Technologies
dc.descriptionThe 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in South Carolina, USA on 16 July 2017 through 20 July 2017.
dc.description.abstractA round trip to Mars will require lots of supplies and will generate lots of trash. Mission studies and technology development are underway for this and other human space exploration missions, and what to do with the trash is more than a casual question. Supplies regularly come to the International Space Station in a variety of visiting vehicles, and trash leaves in the same way. Separate disposable logistics module(s) could also be used with a Mars transit vehicle, but there may be better options. The benefits of using logistics items such as food and other supplies have been recognized for solar radiation event shielding. To maintain this benefit throughout the mission, used logistics that become trash must also be used for shielding. This paper explores the competing benefits of trash disposal during the journey versus keeping the trash on board to maintain radiation shielding for the crew. Periodic disposal options include bulk jettison via an airlock and gas venting after a trash-to-gas process. If the trash is kept on board, it could simply be stored with considerations for control of odor and gas production. Alternatively, trash could be processed with heat melt compactor technology to create radiation shielding tiles from all eligible waste material. In addition to listing qualitative benefits for various options, such as reduced smell or littering, quantitative mission benefits are calculated. Disposal of trash prior to key points in the mission such as Mars orbit insertion and trans-Earth injection can save significant propellant. Alternatively, use of trash as radiation shielding could reduce the need to launch dedicated shielding materials and allow recovery of additional resources such as water. All options explored, except for storage of raw trash in the vehicle, also free up habitable volume.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otherICES_2017_178
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2346/72985
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher47th International Conference on Environmental Systems
dc.subjecttrash
dc.subjectwaste
dc.subjectradiation shielding
dc.subjectcompactor
dc.subjecttrash to gas
dc.subjectjettison
dc.titleComparing Trash Disposal to Use as Radiation Shielding for a Mars Transit Vehicleen_US
dc.typePresentations

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