CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa,
Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- For decades, the approach to managing astronaut trash has
involved temporarily storing and ultimately disposing of the trash
either by return to Earth or incineration during reentry in a
disposable supply vehicle. As NASA pushes the boundaries of human
space exploration through longer missions to the Moon and Mars,
these proven approaches will no longer be feasible for several
reasons. Returning trash to Earth will be impractical, jettisoning
it during the mission may result in the loss of valuable
recoverable resources and disposing of it locally may pose a
planetary protection risk. To solve these challenges, Collins
Aerospace, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), has
proposed an integrated Trash Compaction and Processing System
designed to handle astronaut trash in situ.
The highly integrated technical baseline leverages decades of
Collins' Environmental Control and
Life Support Systems (ECLSS) experience to perform safe recovery
and processing of the valuable resources from the trash compaction
system, minimizing the loss of cabin air while maximizing the
amount of water recovered. Through the compaction process, the
system would reduce trash volume by 93 percent, turning two cubic
feet of trash into a 9"x9"x1.75" disc - essentially reducing
something roughly the size of a beer keg to a small pizza.
NASA selected Collins to
develop the concept through the agency's Next Space Technologies
for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) solicitation for trash
compaction and processing systems. Under NextSTEP-2, Collins will have 18 months to develop and
test its design, before NASA conducts a preliminary design review
(PDR). A second phase focused on procurement will follow.
"Astronaut trash poses a significant challenge for future
missions to the Moon and Mars," said Shawn
Macleod, senior business manager for Space Systems at
Collins Aerospace. "Right now, the crew on the International Space
Station generates roughly two cubic feet of trash per day, and a
resupply vehicle comes and hauls it away about every four months.
On the 18-month journey to Mars, that will not be an option. To
facilitate longer missions, we need a new way to handle trash in
situ, and our system offers the solution."
Enabling human space exploration has been a core focus of
Collins Aerospace since the Apollo era of the 1960s. The company
has developed and manufactured several key life support system
technologies for NASA, including the water recovery system
currently in use on the International Space Station. In addition to
the trash system, Collins is also
under contract with NASA to develop the Universal Waste Management
System, which will be the waste management and collection system
astronauts use in deep space.
About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:
UTX), is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent
solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Created in
2018 by bringing together UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell
Collins, Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive
portfolio and expertise to solve customers' toughest challenges and
to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more
information, visit CollinsAerospace.com.
About United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides
high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace
industries. By combining a passion for science with precision
engineering, the company is creating smart, sustainable solutions
the world needs. For more information about the company, visit our
website at www.utc.com or follow us on Twitter: @UTC
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SOURCE Collins Aerospace