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Selection of human consumables for future space missions
1NASA/Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA.
Summary
Managing food and water consumables is critical for spaceflight, as packaging generates significant waste. Future missions require careful waste assessment and disposal strategies for sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Space exploration
- Environmental science
- Waste management
Background:
- Human spaceflight necessitates a range of consumables, including food and water.
- Advancements in food processing and packaging, while beneficial for space missions, contribute to increased waste generation.
- Consumables represent a major portion of onboard stowage and are a primary source of waste products in spacecraft.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of food and water requirements on waste generation during human spaceflight.
- To highlight the critical role of consumable selection in managing spacecraft waste.
- To inform future mission planning regarding waste assessment and disposal.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of consumables in human spaceflight.
- Analysis of waste generation patterns on current shuttle orbiter missions.
- Assessment of food and water requirements and their contribution to waste.
Main Results:
- Food and packaging waste constitute the majority of trash on current shuttle missions.
- The selection of consumables directly influences the volume of waste produced.
- Current waste management strategies may be insufficient for future, longer-duration missions.
Conclusions:
- Accurate assessment of waste products is essential for planning future space missions.
- Effective methods for processing and disposing of space waste must be developed.
- Sustainable practices in consumable selection and waste management are crucial for long-term human spaceflight.
