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CONCEPTUAL DESiGN FOR A FOOD PRODUCTION, WATER 

AND WASTE PROCESSING, AND GAS 

REGENERATION MODULE 

Regenerative Concepts Group 

0. W. Nicks, 

Principal Investigator 

Semi-Annual Progress Report 

Grant No. NAG 9-161 

November 15: 1986 

- 

Submitted by 

Space Research Center 

Texas A&M University 

College Station, Texas 77843-31 18 

Submitted to 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston, Texas 77058 
~~~ 

SRC 5494-1 

I 

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR A FOOD PRODUCTION, WATER 

AND WASTE PROCESSING, AND GAS 

REGENERATION MODULE 

Regenerative Concepts Group 

0. W. Nicks, 

Principal Investigator 

Semi-Annual Progress Report 

Grant No. NAG 9-161 

November 15,1986 

Submitted to 

NASA Johnson Space Center 

Houston, Texas 77058 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Introduction 

Team Parcticipants 

Summary 

Team Approach 

Artificial Intelligence Equipment and Software 

Technology Tasks Identified 

- Biological Applications for Atmosphere Regeneration & Food Production 

- Waste Management Systems 

- Electrochemical C02 Reduction and the Production of Food 

References 

Appendix 

- Appendix A - Baseline Requirements 

- Appendix B - Regeneration Concepts References 

- Appendix C - Sample Meeting Summaries 

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CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR A FOOD PRODUCTION, WATER AND WASTE 

PROCESSING, AND GAS REGENERATION MODULE 

INTRODUCTION 

This is a six-month progress report on the subject activities of an interdisciplinary 

team at Texas A&M University. Leadership for the team is provided by the Space 

Research Center. Participants in the study effort are representatives from the 

departments of Agricultural Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering 

and Mechanical Engineering. 

The team was initially assembled during proposal preparation in the fall of 1985. 

Frequent meetings were held during this period and during the Spring of 1986 prior to 

official project start on May 15, 1986. 

Food, air and water provisions for manned missions in space have employed 

methods similar to those used on oceangoing vessels and airliners. Chemical and 

mechanical systems have provided processing of atmosphere and water, but food has 

been prepackaged and stowed on-board for use during the mission. Solid waste 

products have been collected and returned to earth for disposal. 

The interdisciplinary team assembled at Texas A&M University includes 

researchers who have experience in the basic technologies relevant to Closed 

Ecological Life Support Systems, however, efforts were required to obtain up-to-date 

knowledge of existing space systems and to review research from the past several 

years addressing the closed ecological question. Ultimately, space qualified systems 

may employ combinations of biological, physical and chemical components in parallel, 

or perhaps redundantly. The "fresh eyes" approach to adapting biological technologies 

with chemical-physical systems is believed to have merit for providing food supply for 

long duration missions and for recycling waste products in the most useful manner. 

Emphasis on efficient recycling, led to a goal of regenerative application of all food, air, 

water and waste products, whether for reuse in the same form, or for making materials, 

providing energy, or other needed products for use in space. With this broad goal in 

mind, the team is called Regenerative Concepts (RECON) Group. 

1 
REGENERATIVE CONCEPTS GROUP TEAM PARTICIPANTS 

Space Research Center 

Oran W. Nicks, Project Leader 

Frank Little, Project Coordinator 

Gloria Johnson, Administrative Coordinator 

Biology Department 

C.O. Patterson 

Mechanical Engineering Department 

Bud Peterson Bill Moses 

Industrial Engineering Department 

Ed Rykiel Peter S harpe 

James Magnuson Harold Slater 

Chemistry Department 

Ramesh Kainthla Duncan Hitchens 

Agricultural Engineering 

Albert Garcia Bruce Wright 

2 
3 

SUMMARY 

During the first six month period, the RECON team was assembled and working 

relationships were established. By agreement, the group elected to meet weekly and 

to remain closely coupled during the information gathering, concept planning phase. A 

significant amount of reference material has been collected, visits were made to 

communicate with other researchers, and distinguished visitors were invited to provide 

presentations on the status of closed life support activities. A decision was made to 

develop the data base and modeling such that artificial intelligence (AI) methods could 

be used to manipulate data and examine concept alternatives. 

In the proposal, six discrete tasks and a project schedule were outlined for the 

first year, Figure 1. The first two tasks have been essentially completed and have 

resulted in a sample set of assumptions for general use in defining candidate systems 

and for the specification of closed system characteristics. To model a closed 

environment, decisions were necessary to establish the amounts of food, air, water and 

waste products. Although it was recognized that data would eventually be normalized 

on the basis of a single human, the amounts of data in existence for four person crews 

led to a decision that this number would be used as a baseline (see Appendix I). 

Information on existing concepts was collected from NASA sources, from industry and 

from library references. The group decided to adopt an artificial intelligence approach 

to concept modeling. Concept modeling was begun, and hardware and software were 

obtained. Technical tasks were identified and key questions for initiating experiments 

were outlined. 
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TEAM APPROACH 

By agreement, the team members met weekly for exchanges of technical 

information, to work together in developing concept models, and to establish a 

framework for meaningful experiments. The group of scientists and engineers has an 

overall goal of answering scientific questions dealing with the integration of biological 

systems, plus the development of engineering answers essential to the design of 

practical systems. 

Examples of concept modeling are provided in the Appendix. A "bottom-up" 

approach was used starting with the most basic considerations of gases, liquids and 

solids. Regular assignments among the team members provided tutorial sessions 

sharing background information and fundamentals from the point of view of the 

biologist, chemist, plant scientist, fluids engineer, etc. Discussions on artificial 

intelligence techniques and requirements for successful modeling were also included. 

The RECON group tutorials included the following subjects: 

1. Electrochemistry for Hydrogen production by electrolysis 

2. Electrochemical coal decomposition 

3. Heat transfer studies 

4. Function modeling for AI application 

5. Food production including: 

- Agriculture cropping system management 

- Higher plant growth requirements 

- Algal capabilities 

- Non-photosynthetic (bacterial) food production 

- Food processing 

6. Biological recycle of organic wastes 

7. Biological atmosphere closure experiments 

Information was provided by astronaut Owen Garriott, who spent months in orbit 

on Skylab and Spacelab missions. Ric Mayer, from the Knowledge Based Systems 

Laboratory at Texas A&M, helped to acquaint the group with current AI technologies. 

Bob Murray, Program Manager from General Electric, who was responsible for the 

development and use of an experimental waste management system in the 1970% 

provided insight concerning mechanical and chemical processing technologies. 

5 
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE 

After an unexpectedly long negotiation process, a Xerox 11 08 workstation has 

recently been provided by Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation 

through an agreement for the dedicated use of the RECON group. An investment was 

made by the Space Research Center for AI software (KEE) to be used in this project. 

Now that the equipment and software are in place, it is planned that development of a 

CELSS data base and a concept modeling framework will proceed and form the 

foundation for future work. Arrangements have been made for a demonstration of an 

expert system developed for JSC to diagnose and correct faults in a prototype space 

station life support system. The demonstration will illustrate the use of AI technology to 

RECON team members, and provide a basis for subsequent concept modeling. 

AI1 of the data collection efforts will be accompanied by continuing systems 

modeling, integrating study results from Texas A&M as well as those of others. The 

successful development of an AI modeling capability should greatly enhance the use 

of the growing data base for concept design trade-off studies. 

6 
TECHNOLOGY TASKS IDENTIFIED 

Biological Applications for Atmosphere Regeneration and Food 

Production: 

Incorporating biological systems into the space environment raises significant 

questions concerning the effects of low pressures on plant growth, and the use of 

nutrients and gas exchange processes. Since nitrogen in the atmosphere appears to 

offer little benefit to plants, it is thought that plants may do well in atmospheric 

environments without the partial pressure normally provided by this gas. For plants 

grown on the moon, for example, some form of pressure containment would be 

necessary. The structural requirements for such containment would be significantly 

reduced by lower internal pressures. Therefore, it seems important to obtain detailed 

knowledge of the effects of pressure and various ratios of C02, 02 and N2 on the 

kinetics of plant processes. The literature which was surveyed produced relevant 

studies, but these were inconclusive because of their short duration and non 

steady-state nature. In addition to the question of how to grow plants is the question of 

what to grow. Plant selection can be based on factors important for nutrition, oxygen 

regeneration or some optimized combination. Growth rate of the plant and percent of 

edible biomass are other important factors in plant selection. Crop maintenance, 

sustainability of yield, and ease of harvest and post harvest processing are important 

secondary characteristics. Experimental efforts with a view toward obtaining scientific 

and engineering information from the same experiments are needed. 

During the 19603, preliminary designs for bioregenerative life support systems 

were developed by NASA, Air Force, and industrial contractors. Progress was made 

toward the development of workable systems; however, when plans were postponed 

for the Manned Orbital Lab and for Space Station in favor of emphasis on Space 

Shuttle, most of the research was discontinued. The short missions and limited crew 

sizes did not warrant the complexity of bio-regenerative systems. 

With interest once again turning to lengthy missions involving crews of four 

persons or more, the design of such closed systems has again become pertinent and 

algal-based systems are attracting new interest. One promising aspect of using algal 

cultures as components of regenerative life support systems is the efficiency with which 

7 
they can be grown. The ease with which they can be handled and manipulated (more 

like chemical reagents than plants), and the culturing techniques available, result in 

much higher growth rates (and thus much higher gas exchange rates) than are usually 

attainable with higher plants. Furthermore, several promising new strains of algae 

have been brought under domestication since the earlier work was done, and 

important improvements in culture techniques have been made. 

One of the RECON team members has extensive experience with algal culture 

techniques and with experimental work on algal biochemistry. He has proposed 

experimental projects to extend our understanding of how these microscopic 

photosynthetic organisms could be best utilized in life support applications. Although 

this earlier work provides a baseline for our conceptual designs in the present project, 

additional engineering data must be collected and trade-off evaluations made before 

practical systems can be designed. 

Waste Management Systems: 

Waste management systems are central to the design of CELSS. Without 

processing allowing reuse, a contractor study showed the logistic requirements for a 

projected 90-day supply of potable and hygiene water would total over half of the 

Shuttle payload capacity. Wash and waste water being returned to earth were 

estimated to significantly exceed the Shuttle landing payload capacity.(’ 

Electrochemical treatments are of great potential value in the conversion of solid 

waste and water of low purity, to reusable gases. The concept being studied in detail 

by the RECON group will involve an electrochemical reactor, or electrolyzer, containing 

an anodic and cathodic compartment. Waste solids are added to these compartments 

where they may be mixed with urine, feces, or waste water. A potential is applied to 

the working electrodes causing the breakdown of solid material to CO2. 

The principle and feasibility of solid waste treatment using this method were 

demonstrated by Bockris and colleagues (2), who observed a high faradaic efficiency 

and product efficiency of the electrochemical breakdown of biopolymers to CO2. 

8 
Most of the solid material of human feces is made up of carbohydrates. Because 

electrochemical methods have been devised for the conversion of even insoluble 

carbonaceous material to C02, it seems likely that electrochemical techniques will be 

able to treat most of the waste materials likely to be produced during a manned space 

mission. 

The types of waste that may be electrolyzed to give usable gases are: 

1 ) feces 

2) urine 

3) plant waste 

4) impure water 

5) disposable containers made of biodegradable polymers. 

Up to this point, emphasis has been placed on electrolysis as a means of 

recycling carbon based compounds to give CO2 which is then supplied to gas 

conversion systems. However, electrolysis of solid waste will also play a central role in 

water management. During the electrolysis, large amounts of H2 will be evolved, at 

the cathodic compartment, from the waste slurry. H2 can be supplied to fuel cells to 

provide electrical energy and to give water which may be reused. H2 is also a primary 

nutrient in some chemosynthetic bioregenerative systems (3). 

use in CELSS(l 1. The following systems were evaluated: 

Physiochemical waste management systems have recently been assessed for 

a) incineration (INCIN) 

b) wet oxidation (WETOX) 

c) supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) 

d) vapor compression distillation (VCD) 

e) thermoelectric integrated membrane evaporation system (TIMES) 

9 vapor-phase catalytic ammonia removal (VPCAR) 

9 
An attempt will be made to assess the above systems in comparison with the 

electrochemical waste treatment concept; however, the reader should bear in mind that 

in making comparisons, these systems are at different stages of development. 

INCIN, WETOX, SCWO are systems designed to process both liquid and solid 

waste. These systems have disadvantages in that they have high heat rejection 

properties and high power requirements, which is especially true for initiation of 

SCWO. INCIN and WETOX both produce effluent that requires post treatment catalytic 

oxidation. These systems have high weight and volume requirements compared to the 

other systems (TIMES, VPCAR, VCD) listed above. 

Electrochemical treatments of waste do not require elevated temperatures. 

Advanced electrochemical processing, combined with convenient methods for 

controlling the electrode reactions will greatly reduce the amount of residue to be 

disposed of. Methods have been devised that will allow even insoluble carbonaceous 

material, such as coal, to be efficiently converted to C02. The electrolyzer may be 

made of light-weight materials using technology associated with light weight fuel cells. 

Electrochemical treatments will afford a great deal of control over the breakdown 

process. Thus, the operation of the system may be adapted to the requirements of 

individual missions. 

VCD, TIMES and VPCAR were designed for use in water recovery. They have 

advantages over WETOX, SCWO, INCIN, in that they have low power requirements 

and are relatively light. Their disadvantage is that they cannot process water that 

contains appreciable amounts of impurities. These processes leave a brine-like 

residue which poses logistical problems thereby limiting the use of these systems for 

long term space missions. 

Nevertheless, it is possible to develop a conceptual design for waste 

management in which VCD, TIMES, or VPCAR may be used in water recovery and 

where the residue from these processes, together with low quality water and solid 

waste is treated electrochemically. 

10 
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Electrochemical CO2 Reduction and the Production of Food: 

Since the mid-l960's, a significant amount of work has been done to 

demonstrate the feasibility of non-photosynthetic microorganisms for use in CELSS. 

Electrochemical methods play a key role in the maintenance of these so-called 

chemosynthetic systems which are a realistic alternative to higher plants as a means of 

gas exchange and food production. These systems, which involve the continuous 

growth of microbial cultures, offer many advantages in terms of weightholume 

requirements, ease of automation, efficiency (no illumination is required), economy 

and fault tolerance. The use of this type of food production has become tenable given 

the highly developed state of food processing which can render almost any basic food 

pal at able . 

Efforts are underway (5) to develop yeasts grown on methanol as potential food 

for CELSS. The highly advanced genetic manipulation systems that are available for 

these microorganisms has made possible the development of strains which contain an 

increased content of digestible carbohydrates to better meet optimal human dietary 

requirements. 

Electrochemical CO2 reduction to simple organic molecules is of primary 

importance to this method of food production. Attempts to provide energy efficient 

methods of C02 reduction, to produce methanol have generally had little success. 

However, rapid improvements in the efficiency of this process are likely, given both the 

importance now attached to photoelectrochemical systems for the production of easily 

stored liquid fuels and the rate at which new catalysts are becoming available 

Chemosynthetic systems have been developed based on the bacterium 

Hydrogenomonas eutropha (4,7). This system is based upon the electro- chemical 

splitting of water (to give H2 and 02) which, together with urine and C02 from the 

astronaut, are the primary nutrients of this microorganism. 

This system involved the production of an electrolysis system designed to 

operate under conditions of weightlessness. This work showed that the material 

balance between human needs (02) and human outputs (CO2 and urine) could be 

11 
maintained by a 20 liter culture of H. eutropha which would also supply 0.72 kg of 

potential food per day. 

Since this work, considerable advances have been made in technology 

associated with continuous microbial culture; these systems represent a realistic option 

for food generation on long-term space missions. 

12 
1 REFERENCES 

(1) T. Savin, F. Liening, M. Oleson and R. L. Olson. NASA Contractor Re 

1 77422 (1 986). 

Ort 

(2) J. O'M Bockris, B. J. Piersma, E. Fileadi. Electrochim Acta 9 (1964) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

1329-1 332. 

D. W. Jenkins. So. Int. Astronaut. Congr. Proc 16 (1966) 229-246. 

P. K. Seshan and G. R. Peterson. CELSS '85 Workshop (1985) 287. 

G. R. Peterson and B. 0. Stokes. CELSS '85 Workshop (1985) 329-338. 

K. Ogura and I. Yoshida. J. Mol. Catalysis 34 (1 986) 309-31 1. 

L. Bongers and J. C. Medici. NASA SP-165 (1968) 9-18. 

13 
APPENDIX 

A large amount of reference material has been amassed during the first 

six-month period. Detailed minutes of weekly meetings were prepared and collected, 

along with many reference materials. These are available to all team members. To 

illustrate the nature and scope of this reference material, a sample set of excerpts from 

the weekly minutes is included. 

14 
8 

APPENDIX A 

Baseline Requirements 

15 
ECLSS Requiraments 

(Condensed from Document no. CSD-SS-059> 

Operating Conditions-- 

Crew: 4 members 

Station Tempernture: 7OoF 

Station Pressure: 14.7 psin 

Daily Supply Requirements: 

potable water 32.4 lb,.,,,* 

hygiene water 48.0 lb, 

clothes wash water 110.0 lb, 

dish wash water 50.0 lb, - 

TOTAL WATER 240.4 lb, 

Oxygen (P02=3.0 psia) 10.2 lb, 

(70% of maximum requirement) 

Daily Removal Requirements: 

1) Water 

reapiration/perspirntion 15.1 lb, 

other metabolic water 3.1 lb, 

urine 17.6 lb, 

food 4.4 lb, 

TOTAL WASTE WATER 41.2 lb, 

- 

2) Solids 

food 

urine 

feces 

sweat 

TOTAL WASTE SOLIDS 

5.44 lb, 

0.52 lb, 

0.28 lb, 

0.16 lb, 

6.40 lb, 

- 

3)Carbon Dioxide 

C02 (Pc-2=0.05 psin) 12.3 lbm 

(70% of maximum requirement) 

16 

3.3 gal 

5.8 gal 

13.2 gnl 

6.0 qnl 

28.9 gal 

391.2 ft3 

1.3 gal 

0.4 gal 

2.1 gal 

0.5 qnl 

4.9 gal 

20576.1 ft3 
ECLSS Requirements 

( C o n d e n s e d f r o m Document no. CSD-SS-059) 

Operating Conditions-- 

Crew: 6 members 

Station Temperature: 70°F 

Station Pressure: 14.7 psia 

Daily Supply Requiremencs: 

potable water 48.6 lb, 

hygiene water 72.0 lb, 

clothes wash water 165.0 lb, 

dish wash water 75.0 lb, 

TOTAL WATER 360.6 lb, 

- 

Oxygen (Po2=3.0 psia) 15.3 lb, 

(70% of maximum requirement) 

Daily Removal Requirements: 

1) Water 

respiration/perspiration 

other metabolic water 

urrne 

food 

TOTAL WASTE WATER 

2) Solids 

food 

urine 

feces 

sweat 

TOTAL WASTE SOLIDS 

24.2 lb, 

4.7 lb, 

26.4 lb, 

6.6 lb, 

61.9 lb, 

- 

8.16 lb, 

0.76 lb, 

0.42 lb, 

0.24 lb, 

9.60 lb, 

- 

3)Carbon Dioxide 

C02 (P~02=0.05 psin) 18.5 lb, 

(709~ of maximum requirement) 

17 

5.8 gal 

8.6 gal 

19.8 gal 

9.0 oal 

43.4 gal 

586.8 ft3 

2.9 gal 

3.2 gal 

0.8 sal 

0.6 981 

7.5 gal 

30947.8 f t3 
General Considerations: 

1 

1) The nbovs requirements make no provision for EVA requirements. 

2) No provision is made for emergency conditions. 

3) Total volume of the station is not incorporated in the gas 

4) Gas supply/removnl volumes nre computed at the appropriate pnrtinl 

supply/removal requirements. 

pressure of each gas. 

.) 

18 
3 

I. 1 SPACE STATION ECLSS REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY 

The critical functions of the space station ECLSS include 

(1) atmospheric pressure and composition control, (2) atmospheric 

revitalization (3) cabin air temperature and humidity control, 

(4) water reclamation and management, (5) personal hygiene and 

waste management, and (6) habitability provisions. The ECLSS shall 

embody regenerative concepts to an optimal degree to minimize the 

resupply expendables, and shall have the necessary flexibility and 

expansion capability to accommodate the phased evolutionary growth of 

the space station. 

The specific design requirements for the ECLSS are listed below: 

1. The ECLSS shall control the space station pressurized environment 

to the values indicated in Table 1. 

2. The cabin 02 shall be supplied by electrolysis of water. 

3. Nitrogen shall be used as the diluent gas in the cabin atmosphere. 

The design goal of the nominal tatal cabin pressure is 14.7 .psis 

4. A regenerative C02 removal system, which concentrates the C02 for 

further processing, shall be provided to maintain the habitat module 

C02 partial pressure under 3.0 mmHg in naminal operation. 

5. The C02 collected shall be converted to water. 

6. Emergency repressurization gases shall be provided to repressurize 

either habitat module or anq normally-pressurized module independent 

of any other module, one time from 0 to 10 psia. 

7. The humidity condensate collected in the C02 reduction and other 

air revitalization processes shall be first used to produce potable 

quality water with chemical and physical treatments to satisfy potability requirements. 

8. Urine and expended hygiene water shall be processed by a concept 

incorporating a phase change to produce potable quality water that 

15 acceptable for water electrolysis and other ECLSS USPS. 

9. Effluent wash water may or may not be processed by a phase change 

CanCept, but must be adequatelq processed to ensure stetilrty and 

suitabllltq as cleansing water. 

19 
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10. Provisions will be made to prevent objectionable and noxious 

odors emitted in any location from being transmitted to any habitable 

location in the space station. 

11. The atmospheric constituents, including harmful airbone trace 

contaminants and odors, will be monitored and controlled in each 

isolable pressurized habitable volume. 

12. Atmospheric leakage of each module shall be less than 0.5 lb/day 

with a maximum of 5 lb/day for the whole space station pressurized 

volume. 

13. Overboard gas venting is permitted but shall be minimized and controllable. Vents shall be non-propulsive, and shall not degrade solar 

cell or radiator surfaces. 

14. Particulate matter filtration shall be provided in the ECLSS for 

removal of airborne particles above 300 micron size. 

15. The microbial concentration in the environment o+ each of the 

pressurized compartments containing crew quarters, process laboratories, or experimental facilities shall be controlled. 

16. Capability shall exist for dumping the atmosphere of a module(s) 

overboard in the event of contamination or fire in the module(s). 

Exposure of the ECLSS within the normally-pressurized modules to 

a cabin pressure between 0 and 10 psia shall not create hazards or 

cause damage to the ECLSS. Provisions to repressuriied the evacuated 

module(s) shall be available from source(s) other than the aforementioned emergency gas supply. The number of repressurirations 

allowed wiil be determined by the criticality of eacn module. 

17. The hydrogen contained in the ECLS subsystems shall not cause an 

explosive hazard if suddenly leaked into the cabin atmosphere. 

18. Crew related consumable resupply shall be sized for 90 days based 

on the 24-hour nominal use rate. A 90-day reserve of consumables 

shall be provided against the possibility that the normal resupply is 

interrupted. 

19. For at least 21 days in LEO, the electrical power supply shall be 

able to provide enough power (currently estimated to be 10 KLJ) for 

operating the ECLSS at the emergency level for ccew survival. 

20 
4 

PAR AhETER 

TABLE 1 ECLSS PEiiFORMatJCE REWIREhEhTS 

UNITS OPERATIONAL 90-DAY 21-DAY 

DEGRADED* EMERGENCY 

C02 Partial Pressure mmHg 3.0 Max 7. b Max 12 Max 

Temp era tur e deg F 65 - 75 60 - 85 60 - 90 

Dew Point+* deg F 40 - 60 35 - 70 35 - 70 

Ventilation f t/min 15 - 40 10 - 100 5 - a00 

Potable Water lb/man day 6. a - 8. 1 6.8 min 6.8 rnin 

Hygiene Water lb/man day 12 min 6 min 3 min 

Clothes Wash Water lbiman day 28 min 14 min 0 

02 Partial Pressure+** psia 2. 7 - 3. 2 2. 4 - 3. a 2.3 - 3. 3 

Total Pressure psia 14. 7 10 - 14. 7 10 - 14. 7 

Trace Contaminants --- 24 nr. 8 hr. 8 hr. 

industr id1 industrial industrial 

standard standard standard 

Microbial Count --- --- per ft3 100 

Maximum Crew Member per space 

stat ion 8 

Maximum crew Member *per Habitat module 4 

d 12 

b' 8 

* Degraded levels meet "fail operational'' reliability criteria. 

** In no case shall relative humidities exceed the range OP 25 -75 %. 

*** In no case shall the (32 partial pressure ,be belsw 2.3 psia, or 

. the 02 concentration exceed 26.9%. 

21 
I 

'I 

The ECLSS also includes the space station extravehicular activity 

8 work system which is comprised of all equipment required to 

--t the anticipated construction and service missions outside 

i space station. The specific design requirements Cor the EVA 

system are listed below: 

c maximum EVA duration will be eight hours/man/24-hour daq. 

G hours is in addition to 30 minutes each 09 pre and post-EVA 

I iJ--- -:ions. 

I+ ~rew's metabolic C02 and waste H20 and t h e r e f r e e z i n g o+ the nonl 

E space station must provide the capabilities to reservice the 

erable EMU lir'a support subsysteln including the reprocessing of 

~ :ng heat sink. Reservicing capabilities shall be based on 24 '1 --hour EVA's per week as a minimum. __ . 

~8 

1 

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II 

I 

"pre-breathe" by an EVA crewman shall be required prior to an 

EVA suits will be pressurized with oxygen. 

~ 

1 

P space station must support multiple EVA's during any given 

+rame and to eliminate procedural or safetq concsrns thir space 

:on shall provide multiple EVA airlocks. ' ---- 

P space station is required to provide a variable,'controllsi 

3C depressurization and pressurization of the EVA airlocks. 

-ressurization and repressurization i's not to exceed 1 psi/sec. 

~nside and outside the space station and inside the airlocks. 

support umbilical connectors shall be available outside the 

- .- - - . a m i n d l r a t e is not to exceed 0. 1 psi/sec. The emergency rapid.rate 

zssurization/pressurization control shall be passible from 

-- ---_-- - . - .- -_ 

Irk to allow umbilical EVA operations. 

5 space station shall be designed to conserve and minimize 

Function as a hyperbaric chamber capable o+ 3 atmaspheres. 

:zk consumable losses as a result of an EVA. The airlock shall 

-:rlock shall also be responsive to emergencyl quick EVA requireand will provide all EMU support during airlock depressurizaand rep r es sur i za t ion. 

gvisions for EVA preparation, EVA cquipment storagel recharger 8 - 

- 

..autr maintenance and post-EVA activities shall be made in the 

:zk or in an adjacent pressurized ccmpartment. The maintenance 

must accomodate stowage of EMU spare parts and tools. Provito verify the acceptability of an EMU far EVA lallawrng its 

- or resiring must be available in the work arza I 

22 
7 

ff. A window shall be placed close to tho airlocks ta allow an observer 

to have visual contact with an EVA astronaut immeaiately deter nisiner 

egress. 

9. Voice communications and visual surveillance of the EVA crew shall 

be provided. 

io. Translation means will include hand railsihana holds and manned 

maneuvering units (MMU). 

11. Hand holds, hand rails, and restraint attach points must be provided along all EVA routes and at each EVA hatch. Attachment provisions for portable handholds and restraint systems must be available 

at remote work sites * 

13. The space station design shall be able to support simultaneous 

EVA of two crewmembers during initial operations and up to +our crewmembers during subssquent grouth phases. 

14. A minimum of 2 MMU support stations shall be provided during 

growth phases. Tho MMU’s shall be protected from the hazards of space 

vacuum exposure during stowage and servicing. 

15. The EMU shall utilize automatic manaaement to the extent possible. 

16. EVA audio and visual displays with up and dawn link capabilities 

shall be provided. 

The general safety, reliability, maintainability and redundancy 

for the ECLSS are included in the space station requirements sct 9orth 

by the JSC Space Station Program OfGice (reference I). To meet the 

requirements, the ECLSS shall be fail/sat’e and failloperational, i. e. : 

1. A failure of any subsystem will not jeopardize the lives 

of the crew or the integrity of any other subsystem, or cause the 

evacuation of any module. 

2. If the primarq unit of any subsystem is inoperational, the 

backup unit o+ the subsystem shall be aale tojsrform the critical 

functions of the subsqstem at the nominal level. 

3. The capability OF perfarming critical functions will exist at 

the emer3encg level, long enough to restore nominal operationsI or 

to rescue the crew to iafety. 

23 
8 

1.2 GROUNDRULES AND ASSUMPTIONS 

To develop the conceptual design far the space station ECLSS which 

will satisfy the requirements, a number of groundrules and assumptions 

have been made. They are summarized as follows: 

1. Table 2 defines ECLSS nominal design loads, which are based 

on an average metabolic rate of 11200 BTU/man-day. A metabolic heat 

generation matrix containing the sensible and latent load split for the 

crew activities is shown in Table 3. 

2. The air-pressurized volumes of the initial space station, will 

include one habitat, one serviceI one logistic and two airlock modules. 

The space station will be inhabited after the basic modules are 

launched and assembled. 

3. The operational space station will include one more habitat;.. 

one more service module and an IVA tunnel between the two habitat i. 

modules, which will be air-pressurized. Each pair of habitat and 

service modules will be separately pressurized with an independent 

ECLSS which is capable of supporting 4 men at the operational level, 

and 8 men at the degraded level. 

4. The volumes of the initial and opbratianal space station modules 

are estimated to be 

HABITABLE 

VOLUME (F t3 ) 

MODULE CROSS PRESSUR I ZED 

VOLUME : F t3 1 VOLUME ( F t3 ) 

Habitat 7100 6390 

Service 2000 1800 

Logistic 2260 2030 

Airlock 200 1 so 

Tunne 1 1270 1140 

3550 

1000 

1130 

140 

650 

5. For analysis oC transient performance of the space station 

ECLSS, only the habitable volumes of the habitat and service modules 

will be considered. A typical crew duty cycle is shown in Figure l.* 

6. The nominal atmospheric pressure and composition requirements 

specified in Table 1 are for the habitat modules 3nly. The atmosphere 

in other pressurized modules will be allowed to exceed the nominal 

level but not the degraded level requirements during nominal operation 

7. Only one h a b i t a t m o d u l e a n d one service module will be completely repressurized one time after evacuation of the modulesl in tire 

event of contamination or fire in the modules. 

.+ Figures are attached to the end of the text 

24 
9 

8. ECLS subsystems using or producing hydrogen shall preferably be 

located in the service module. Passing hydrogen through docking or 

berthing interfaces shall be avoided as a design goal. 

9. Solar array power will be available in the 56-minute sunlit 

phase ai! a 92-minute space station orbital period. During the earthshadowed phase, regenerable battery or fuel cell supplied power will 

be available. The ECLSS shall be designed so that major power consuming subsystems will use their maximum power draw on the sun-lit 

phase of the orbit. 

10. To evaluate the power penalty of a ECLS subsystemI estimated 

values (Reference 1) of 34.6 Ib/KW for AC and 30.6 lb/KW for unregulated DC are used for sunlit periods, and 496 lb/KW-hr for.AC and 375 

Ib/KU-hr for unregulated DC are used for earth-shadowed periods. 

The estimates for the earth-shadowed periods are based on the present 

battery technology envisioned for space station applications. The 

tremendouslq high power penalty for the earth-shadowed periods practically dictates that the major power consuming ECLS subsystems will 

have to operate cyclically. 

11. The ECLS subsystem temperature control shall maintain any 

selected temperature + 2 deg. F, between the values indicated in Table 

1 within the heating or cooling capacity of the subsystem. When heating or cooling load is highI the extreme range of temperatures shown 

in Table 1 is allowed. 

12. The crew's diet will be comprised of 502 +reeze-driedI 20% 

frozen, 30X thermal stable types of food. The water content of the 

three types of food are 2%, 55% and 65%. respectively. 

13. The requirements for t h e s p a c e station ECLSS do not include 

02 generation, C02 removal and water reclamation required to support 

life science and other experiments which will introduce additional life 

forms into the space station. 

14. The efeect of the vehicle heat leakage on the ECLSS will not 

be accounted for. 

15. The average EMU heat leak during a typical EVA for space 

station construction/service mission is 0 BTU/hr into the EMU. 

16. The maximum, average and minimum creu metabolic rates during a 

typical EVA for space station construction/service mission are 2000, 

1000 and 400 BTU/hr, respectively. The average metabolic rate of the 

EVA crewman during the non-EVA period in an EVA day will be the 

same as that in an non-EVA day. 467 BTU/hr. 

17. The ECLSS equipment shall be designed for a minimum operational life of 10 years with resupply of consumables and replaceable 

items of equipment. 

25 
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TADLE 2 ECLS DESIGN AVERAGE LOAGS 

At A 70 DEG F CABIN TEMPERATURE 

PARAMETER 

Metabolic 02 

Metabolic C02 

Air Leakage 

EVA 02 

EVA c132 

Drink Water 

Food Preparation Water 

Hand Wash Water 

Shower Water 

Clothes Wash Water 

Dish Wash GJater 

MetaboLic Produced H20 

Perspiration and 

Respiration Water 

Urine 

Food Solids 

Food Water 

Urine Solids 

Fecal Solids 

Sweat so 1 ids 

EVA Waste Water 

UNITS 

Lb/man day 

lb/man day 

lb/day total 

lb/8 hr EVA 

lb/8 hr EVA 

lb/man day 

lbiman day 

lb/man day 

lb/man day 

Ib/man day 

Ib/man day 

lb/man day 

lb/man daq 

lb/man day 

lb/man day 

lb/man day 

Lb/man day 

Lb/rnan day 

lb/man daq 

lb/man day 

AVERAGE 

.I. a4 

2. 20 

TB D 

1.32 

1. 57 

2. 86 

3. 90 

7. 0 

5. 0 

27. 5 

12. 5 

0. 70 

4. 02 

4. 4 

1. 36 

1. 10 

0. 13 

0. 07 

0. 04 

2. 0 

- 

26 

PEAK 

3. 65 

4. 41 

5. 0 

3. 39 

4. 64 

5. 82 
TABLE 2 ECLS GESICN AUESAGE LOADS 

At A 70 DE!: F wT;IrJ TEMPERATURE (CONTINUED) 

5ensible Metabolic Heat BTU/man day 7010 

-"jgien~ Latent Watsr lb/man aay 0. 94 

,dundry Latent Water lb/man day 0. 13 

Expended Hygiene Water 

Solids % 0. 13 

% 0. 44 

1 b /EVA 2. 40 

Wash Water Solids 

+irlack Gas Loss 

27 

7900 

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TABLE 3 METABOLIC HEAT GENERATION MATRIX 

LOW Hetabol ic Load 

Cabin Temperature 6 5O 700 

Btu/hr - Total Btu/hr Hrs Total Btu/hr 

Sensible 

SI eep 

Lt Wk 

Hd Wk 

La tent 

Sleep 

Lt Uk 

Hd Wk 

230 a 1840 230 8 1840 230 

360 a 2880 315 8 2520 270 

375 8 E 325 8 2600 270 

70 8 560 70 8 560 70 

90 8 720 135 8 1080 180 

175 8 - 1400 225 8 - 1800 280 

Total 2680 3440 

Total 7720 6960 

Total Metabol ic Rate 10,400 

(Bt u/ma n-da y ) 

10,400 

75O 

8 1840 

-- Hrs Total 

8 2160 

8 2160 

6160 

8 560 

8 1440 

8 2240 

4240 

10,400 

- 

- 

Nominal Metabolic Load 

Cabin Temperature 6sO 700 75O 

Btu/hr Hrs - Total Btu/hr Hts Total Btu/hr .t& Total 

Sensible 

S 1 eep 230 8 1840 230 8 1840 230 a 1840 

Lt Wk 360 5 1800 315 5 1575 270 5 1350 

Hv Wk 390 2 - 780 335 2 - 670 270 2 7 

540 

Hd Wk 375 9 3375 325 9 2925 270 9 2430 

To ta 1 7795 7010 . 6160 

51 eep 70 8 560 70 8 560 70 8 560 

Lt Wk 90 5 450 135 5 675 180 5 900 

Md Wk 175 9 1575 225 9 2025 280 9 2520 

Hv Wk 410 2 - azo 465 2 930 530 2 - 1060 

Total 3405 41 90 5040 

Latent 

Total Metabol ic Rate 11,200 

( B t u/ma n-da y ) 

11,200 1 1,200 

Cabin Temperature 650 

Hiah Metabol ic Load 

7 oo 75O 

Btu/hr Hrs Total Btu/hr Hrs Total Btu/hr -- Hrs Total 

Sens i bl e 

S 1 eop 

Lt Uk 

Hd Wk 

Hv blk 

Latent 

5 f eep 

Lt Wk 

fld Uk 

Hv Uk 

230 a 1840 

360 4 1440 

375 4 15oo 

390 8 3120 

To ta 1 7900 

70 a 560 

90 4 360 

410 8 j280 

Total 4900 

175 4 700 

Total M-tabol ic Rate 12,800 

-. (8 t U/man-day ) 

28 

70 8 560 

135 4 540 

225 4 900 

46s 8 j720 

5720 

12,800 

230 8 1840 

270 4 1080 

270 4 1080 

270 8 2160 

6160 

- 

70 8 560 

280 4 1120 

180 4 720 

12,800 
APPENDIX B 

Regenerative Concept References 
REGENERATIVE CONCEPTS REFERENCES 

Aroeste, H. Application of Guided Inquiry System Technique (GIST) to Controlled 

Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS). NASA CR-166312, January 1982. 

Auslander, D.M., R.C. Spear, and G.E. Young, Application Control Theory to Dynamic 

Systems Simulation. NASA CR-166383, August 1982. 

Auslander, D. M., R.C.Spear, P. S. Babcock, and M. H. Nadel, Control and Modeling of 

a CELSS. NASA CR-177324, October 1983. 

Auslander, D., R. Spear, P. Babcock and M. Nadel. Control and Modeling of a CELSS 

(Controlled Ecological Life Support System). NASA CR-177324, November 

1984. 

Averner, M. An Approach to the Mathematical Modelling of a Controlled Ecological 

Life Support System. NASA CR-166331 , August 1981. 

Averner, M., M. Karel, and R. Radmer. Problems Associated with the Use of Algae in 

Bioregenerative Life Support Systems. NASA CR-166615, November 1984. 

Babcock, P.S. Nonlinear System Controller Design Based on Domain of Attraction: An 

Application to CELSS Analysis and Control. NASA CR-177401 , March 1986. 

Ballou, E. V. Mineral Separation and Recycle in a Controlled Ecological Life Support 

System (CELSS). NASA CR- 166388, March 1982. 

Batten, Carmen E., John B. Hall, and Judd R. Wilkins. Domestic Wash Water 

Reclamation for Reuse as Commode Water Supply Using a Filtration -- ReverseOsmosis Separation Technique. NASA TN D-760, 1974. 

Bodde, Tineke. Earth and Space Scientist to Gain From Joint Shuttle Venture. Two 

NASA Experiments. Space Biology: How do Plants Know Which Way is Up? 

Ecological Support Systems: Growing Vegetables in Space. BioScience, Vo1.31 

1981. 

Brown, A.H. and D. K. Chapman. Circumnutation Observed Without a Significant 

Gravitational Force in Spaceflight. Science, Vol. 225, 1984. 

Brown, A.H. and D. K. Chapman. The First Plants to Fly on Shuttle. The Physiologist, 

Vol. 25, No. 6. 1982. 

Bugbee, B., F.B.and Salisbury. Wheat Production in the Controlled Environments of 

Space. Utah Science ,1985. 

30 
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Bulley, N.R. and D. Phillips. Horticultural Lighting Using HID/Light Pipe Systems. 

American Society for Agricultural Engineering, 1 984. 

Carden, J.L. and R. Browner. Preparation and Analysis of Standardized Waste 

Samples for Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS). NASA 

CR-166392, August 1982. 

Collins, Vernon G. and Warren D. Hypes. Reclamation and Reuse of Domestic Waste 

Water and the Processing of Sewage Solids to Reduce Organics. NASA, 

Presented at 1974 lntersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, 1974. 

Connors, M. M., H. A. Harrison, F. R. Akins. Livina Aloft - Human Reauirements for 

Extended %ace fliaht, NASA SP-483, 1985. 

Cowles, J.R., u. Lignification in Young Plants Exposed to the Near-zero Gravity of 

Space Flight. The Physiologist, 1982. 

Cowles, J. and W. Sheld Plant Growth Unit. Comment Edition. NASA Ames Research 

Center, 1983. 

Dickey, F. J. and A. L. Toussaint. ECESIS: An application of expert systems to 

manned space stations. IEEE Computer Society Conference on Artificial 

Intelligence Applications, 1984. 

Dufour, P.A., J. L. Solber, and J. S Wallace. Publications of the NASA CELSS 

Program. NASA CR-3911, 1985. 

Fong, R. and E.A Funkhouser. Air Pollutant Production by Algal Cell Cultures. NASA 

CR-166384, August 1982. 

General Electric. Integrated Waste Management-Water system Using Radioisotopes 

for Thermal Energy. Executive Summary, January 1974. 

Gray, S. W. and B. F. Edwards. The Effect of Weightlessness on the Growth and 

Orientation of Roots and Shoots on Monocotyledonous Seedlings. The 

Experiments of Biosatellite II. Exp. P-1020. 

Gustan, E. and T. Controlled Ecological Life Support System: Transportation Analysis. 

NASA CR-166420, November 1982. 

Hall, John B. Jr. Domestic Wash-Water Reclamation Using an Aerospace-Developed 

Water Recovery Subsystem NASA Technical Memorandum, NASA TM X-2896, 

1973. 

Hall, John B. Jr. Advanced Integrated Life Support Systems-A Status Report. NASA 

690637, 1969. 

31 
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1 

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Hall, John 6. Jr. Evaluation of a Multifiltration Water Reclamation Subsystem to 

Reclaim Domestic Clothes Wash Water. NASA Technical Memorandum. NASA 

TM X-2781 , 1973. 

Hall, J. 6. Jr, ad. Manned Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support 

System Compute r-Aided Techno logy Assessment Program. SA E Fourteenth 

Intersociety Conference on Environmental Systems, 1984. 

Hall, J. 6. Jr., et al. Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Technology 

Options for Space Station Application. ICES 15th Annual Intersociety 

Conference, 1985. 

Hall, S. B. The Human Role in Space - Technoloav. Economics and ODt imizatio n. 

Noyes Publications, 1985. 

Hill, Walter. Sweet Potatoes for Space Farming. (Project). Langley Researcher, 

February 1986. 

Hoff, J.E., J.M. Howe, and C.A. Mitchell. Nutritional and Cultural Aspects of Plant 

Species Selection for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System. NASA 

CR-166324, March 1982. 

Hornberger, G.M. and E.B. Rastetter. Sensitivity Analysis as an Aid in Modelling and 

Control of (Poorly-Defined) Ecological Systems. NASA CR-166308, March 1982. 

Howe, J. M. and J. E. Hoff. Plant Diversity to Support Humans in a CELSS 

Ground-Based Demonstrator. NASA Contractor Report 166357, June 1982. 

Huffaker, R.C., D.W.Rains, and C.O. Qualset. Utilization of Urea, Ammonia, Nitrite, and 

Nitrate by Crop Plants in a Controlled Ecological Life Support Syste (CELSS), 

NASA-CR 16641 7, October 1982. 

Huttenbach, R.C., M. L. Pratt, and C. Bucke. An Evolutionary Approach to the 

Development of a CELSS Based Air Revitalisation System. 860968. 

Jedamus, J. and Y. Hoshiai. Liberating Hydrogen. Newsweek. 1986. 

Jernigan, C. M. and E. Pentecost. Space Industrialization Opportunities. Noyes 

Publications, 1985. 

Johnson, Emmett J. Genetic Engineering Possibilities for CELSS: A Bibliography and 

Summary of Techniques. NASA CR-166306, March 1982. 

KareI, Marcus. Evaluation of Engineering Foods for Controlled Ecological Life Support 

Systems (CELSS). NASA Contractor Report 166359, 1982. 

R 32 
Karel M. and A.R.Kamarei. Feasibility of Producing a Range of Food Products from a 

Limited Range of Undifferentiated Major Food Components. NASA CR-177329, 

April 1984. 

Krikorian, A.D. and S.A. OConnor. Some Karyological Observations on Plants Grown 

in Space. The Physiologist, Vo1.25, No.6, 1982. 

Lin, C. H. Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support System. Preliminary 

Conceptual Design. NASA Document JSC 17727, September 1982. 

London, S. A. Gaseous Exchange in a Closed Ecological System. Technical 

Documentary Report No. AMRL-TDR-62-139, December 1962. 

MacElroy, R.D., D.T.Smernoff, and J.Klein. Life Support Systems in Space Travel. 

Topical Session of XXVth COSPAR Meeting, Graz, Austria. NASA CP-2378, May 

1985. 

MacElroy, R.D., N.V.Martello, D.T. Smernoff. Controlled Ecological Life Support 

Systems: CELSS '85 Workshop, NASA TM-88215, January 1986. 

Maguire, B. Literature Review of Human Carried Microbes' Interaction with Plants. 

NASA CR-166330, August 1980. 

Mason, R.M. CELSS Scenario Analysis: Brakeven Calculation. NASA CR-166319, 

April 1980. 

Mason, R. M. and J. L. Carden. Controlled Ecological Life Support System - Research 

and Development Guidelines. NASA CP 2232, 1982. 

Merkis, A.I. and R. S. Laurinavichyus. Complete Cycle of Individual Development in 

Plants of Arabidopsia thaliana (L.) Heynh. Aboard the Salyut-7 Orbital Station. 

Translated form Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, Vol 271, No.2, 1984. 

Merkys, A. J., et ai. Gravity as an Obligatory Factor in Normal Higher Plant Growth and 

Development. Adv. Space Res. Vol. 1. 1981. 

Merkys, A.J., et al. The State of Gravity Sensors and Peculiarities of Plant Growth 

During Different Gravitational Loads. Advanced Space Research Vol. 3, No.9. 

1983. 

Moore, B. and R.D. MacElroy. Controlled Ecological Life Support System: Biological 

Problems. NASA CP-2233, May 1982. 

Moore, B., Ill, R.A.Wharton, Jr, and R.D. MacElroy. Controlled Ecological Life Support 

System: First Principal Investigators Meeting. NASA CP-2247, December 1982. 

33 
Murray, R.W. and Sauer, R. L. Integrated Waste and Water Management System. 

General Electric Document No. 860996. 

NASA. Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems Program Research Projects 

Funded in 1979-1 981. 

NASA. CELSS (Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems ) Program Research 

Projects Funded 1979-1 985. 

NASA-KSC. Summary of Proceedings of the CELSS Ground-Based Test Chamber 

Design Workshop. NASA KSC, February 1985. 

NASA Office of Space Science and Applications Life Science Division. Controlled 

Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) Program Research Projects Funded in 

1979-81 , 1982. 

NASA. Enaineerina and Confiauraitons of Space Station and Platforms. Noyes 

Publications, 1985. 

NASA. Space Sta tion Proaram - Descriotion. Aoolication and Ooportunities. Noyes 

Publications, 1985. 

Neilon, J. J. Space Shuttle Cargo Processing. Earth-Orient. applic. Space Techno/. 

Vo1.3, No.2, 1983. 

Newland, R. G. and R.W. Price. Design Study of Gravity-Independen Photosynthetic 

Gas Exchanger. General Electric PIR 5753-1 437, January 1963. 

Nitta, K. and M. Yamashita. Concept Study on the Technology of CELSS. 35th 

Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, 1984. 

Northrop ILSS Support Group. Analysis of 28-day Test for NASA Langley. NASA 

7399, 1968. 

Oleson, M.and R.L. Olson. Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS): 

Conceptual Design Option Study, NASA CR-177421 , August 1986. 

Parfenov, G.P. and V. M. Abramova. Flowering and Ripening of Arabidopsis Seeds in 

Weightlessness. Experiment of the Kosmos-1129. Institute of Medico-Biological 

Problems, Moscow, 1981. 

Perkins, W. A. and T. J. Laffey. The Lockheed Expert System: Putting KnowledgeBased Systems to Work at Lockheed.Lockheed Horizons. 

PhytoResource Research, Inc. In-Flight Acquisition of Engineering Data for Plant 

Growth Systems Design. NASA Contract No. 9-1 7291 , 1985. 

34 
Pitts, J. A. The Human Factor. NASA SP-4213, 1985. 

Radmer,R., P. Behrens, E. Fernandez, 0. Ollinger, C. Howell, A. Venables, D. Huggins, 

and R. Gladue. Algal Culture Studies Related to a Closed Ecological Life 

Support System (CELSS). NASA CR-177322, October 1984. 

Related to a Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). NASA 

Radmer, R., 0. Ollinger, A. Venables, and E. Fernandez. Algal Culture Studies 

CR-166375, July 1982. 

Raper, C. David, Jr. Plant Growth in Controlled Environments in Response to 

Characteristics of Nutrient Solutions. NASA CR-166431, November 1982. 

Schelkopf, J.D., F.J. Witt, and R.W. Murray. Integrated Waste Management-Water 

System Using Redioisotopes for Thermal Energy. GE Doc. No. 74SD4201, May 

1974. 

Slavin, T., F. Liening, M. Oleson andR. L. Olson. CELSS: Physiochemical Waste 

Management Systems Evaluation. NASA 17422, June 1986. 

Mouse-Algal System. NASA CR-177402, March 1986. 

Preliminary Evaluation of Closed-Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) 

Scenarios and Control Strategies. NASA CR-166368, July 1982. 

Smernoff, D.T. Atmosphere Stabilization and Element Recycle in an Experimental 

Stahr, J.D., D.M. Auslander, R.C. Spear and G.E. Young. An Approach to the 

Staples, G. M. Biocel Water Reclamation for Space Station. Northrop Services, May 

1986. 

Sweet, Haven C. and J. W. Tremor. Plant Growth Chambers on Spacelab: A Call for 

Scientific Input. Arner. J. Bot. 655, 1978. 

Sweet, H. C. and R. C. Simmonds. Specifications for and Preliminary Design of a 

Plant Growth Chamber for Orbital Experiments. Technical Memorandum. NASA 

TM X-73,189. 

Tibbitts, T.W. Controlled Environment Life Support System: Calcium-Related Leaf 

Injuries on Plants. NASA CR-177399, March 1986. 

Tibbitts, T.W. and D.K. Alford. Controlled Ecological Life Support System: Use of 

Higher Plants. NASA CP-2231, May 1982. 

Tibbitts, T.W., and R.M. Wheeler. Controlled Environment Life Support System: Growth 

Studies with Potatoes, NASA CR-177400, March 1986. 

35 
Trusch, R. B., et ai, Computer Simulation of the Environmental Thermal Control and 

Life-support System for the Space Station Prototype. SAE/ASME/AIAA Life 

Support and Environmental Control Conference. 1971. 

Tsvetkova, I.V., et ai. Special Features of Plant Feeding Under Conditions of 

Aeroponic Cultivation for a Closed System. Problems of Space Biology. Vol. 4 

N.M. Sisakyan, Editor. 

Young, G. A Design Methodology for Nonlinear Systems Containing Parameter 

Uncertainty; Application to Nonlinear Controller Design. NASA CR-166358, May 

1982. 

Wheeler, R. and T. Tibbitts. Controlled Ecological Life Support System: Higher Plant 

Flight Experiments. NASA CR-177323, November 1984. 

Wright, B.D. A Prototype System for Orbital Plant Experiments. Abstract of Thesis. 

Department of Agriculture and Chemical Engineeing, Fort Collins, CO, 1985. 

Wydeven, T. Composition and Analysis of a Model Waste for a CELSS. NASA TM 

84368, September 1983. 

Ziegler, L. Water and Waste Management Subsystem Design for a Space Station 

Prototype. Amer. SOC. Mech. Eng., Env. Contrl. & LSS Conf , 1972. 

36 
APPENDIX C 

Sample Meeting Summaries 

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Regenerative Concepts Group 

Summary 

Meeting May 19,1986 

Attending: Carl Aufderheide, Earl Klein, James Magnuson, Bill twses, Pat Patterson, 

Bud Peterson, Ed Rykiel, Peter Sharpe, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, Bruce Wright, 

and Gloria Johnson. 

1. Peterson - Report on John Hall Contact 

Bud Peterson contacted John Hall at Langley and discussed his work in closed 

life support systems. Hall chose to develop a 4-man module because it was easier to 

use when planning for a safe haven. When doubling up, he uses linear scaling factors 

for everything, including volume. Hall will share his information, including a computer 

program for model development. The group asked Peterson to put together a package 

on Hall's work and circulate it so that the group can decide if they want to use the 

computer model. 

2. Rykiel - Status of Workstation 

The original proposal for leasing the Xerox 1108 AI Workstation from MCC fell 

through because of a tax problem. The next possible steps are: 

(1) Submit proposals describing projects using the hardware, and have MCC 

give us the machines. TAMU would have to pay maintenance costs. If that happens, it 

will be within three months. 

(2) Another possibility will be to use other hardware which can run the KEE 

software, in the Knowledge Based Systems Laboratory. 

(3) If it is not possible to use the KEE, the project can be done in other ways. 

Time spent on defining the model will not be wasted, as it will give the group time to 

develop the concept. 

3. Rykiel - Function Modeling 

Ed Rykiel gave a presentation on function modeling. The information he used is 

attached for review by the group before next session. The following diagrams were 

developed as a first attempt at describing functions necessary for developing the 

closed life system model. As an assignment for the next meeting, group members are 

to prepare the next level of Function 1-4 (Manipulate), using gas as a basis. 
System Constraints 

Current 

Environment + 

Livable 

Environment 

Control 

Environment 

Current 

Environment 

Compare with 

Constraints 

sense 

Present 

State 

Re enerative 

(Module) 

Su % systems 

Biotic Abiotic 

Sensors Sensors 

Current 

Environment 
SenSe 

Environment State 

Current Present 

1-1 

Current a-4 Manipulate 1-41-b Environment Adjusted Environment 

Compare Decide 

Constraints Ne€d€d (data) with if Ad j us tm ent 

1-2 1-3 

R enerative 

s3systems 
RECON Meeting Summary 

May 26,1986 

man 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, Oran Nicks, James Magnuson, Bill Moses, Bud Peterson, 

Ed Rykiel, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, Peter Sharpe, and Bruce Wright. 

plants 

1. Peterson - John Hall's work at Langley. 

Members had received two papers by Hall for review. Nicks suggested inviting Hall to work with the 

group. Members decided that they would like to wait until the modeling is finished, so that they will have a 

basis for working with him. 

2. Function Modeling 

The group decided to use the Space Station Requirements as a basis for the modeling, then put in 

Hall's data, then work on the combined product. 

The group defined CONTEXT as the closed life support system, the output/input side. They 

defined the VIEWPOINT as from the design engineer view, defining functions, assume livable 

environment exists, and find methods to keep it that way. After some discussion, they decided to leave 

man out at first, add him in later. 

STATION 

with 4 men 

and initial 

conditions for 

finite mission 

(say, 1 month) 

(includes man's products) 

outputs 

i 

Remove 

Water 

A 

* 

Machines 
A.E. 

C.E. 

b MAN I PU LATE 

f 

Manipulate 

Gas 

Others 7-f- 

+ Manipulate 

Liquid 

Subsystems Resupply/disposal 

I 

b Manipulate 

Solid 
Current Environment 

Gases 

Subsystem 

b 

From Plants ElectroStorage (light) Chemical 

w Oxygen that 

Oxygen Requirements Manipulate meets A€ 

r I 

I I-I Others 

7-77 

To Plants Combustion 

Storage (dark) 
I 

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II LEVaCNE 

System Constraints 

Livable 

Environment Environment 

Current 

Environment 

Re enerative 

(Module) 

Su % systems 

Biotic Abiotic 

Sensors Sensors 

Current 

Environment 
8 

Current 

Environment 

/" 

Decide 

if Adjustment sense compare 

State Constraints Needed 

Present (data) with . 

1-1 1-2 1-3 

Habitability & 

Survivabi ity System 

Calibration Constraints Tolerance 

Current 

Environment 

Decide 

if Adjustment sense compare 

State Constraints Needed 

Present (data) with . 

1-1 1-2 1-3 

1 1 

Biotic Abiotic 

Sensors Sensors 

, c 

Machine Mm I 

Environment Current ,-{ Manipulate 1-4 Eb Environment Adjusted 

R enerative 

SXsystems 
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RECON Meeting Summary 

June 16,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, James Magnuson, Rick Mayer, Bill 

Moses, Oran Nicks, C.O. Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, 

Peter Sharpe, and Bruce Wright. 

The group worked on identifying the treatments : 

1. Waste Treatment - Agricultural Engineering 

Wright presented a sketch of waste treatment reactors, which is attached. The 

group discussed the sketch and asked questions. 

2. Mechanical Processes - Mechanical Engineering 

Peterson presented the mechanical processes, which is attached. 

3. Chemical Processes - Chemistry 

Scharifker listed the chemical processes. See attached. 

4. AI Update 

Rick Mayer visited MCC and discussed the AI workstation with people there, on 

June 6. He will deliver a proposal to them this week, to illustrate the research that will 

be done on the machines. He expects an answer and to have the workstations, soon. 

He talked with the group about getting ready to put criteria for the total system into the 

KEE. 

5. Food 

There was discussion about including food processes at this point., and whether 

to start with processes or to start with the plants. Assignments were made to bring 

information next week for discussion on food. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, June 23, in Room 202, ERC, at 1 :30 p.m. 

Action Items: 

1. Wright and Schueller - terrestrial food, diets 

2. Patterson - micro-organisms 

3. Magnuson - germination of seeds. 
h I 

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5 51 

El 

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\ 
MECHANICAL PROCESSES 

Process Power 

Efficiency Required 

(W (KW) 

H20 Recovery Systems 

Distillation 

- vapor compression distillation 97 

- thermoelectric integrated membrane evaporative 97 

- air evaporative closed cycle 100 

- vapor phase catalytic removal 97 

Filtration 

- mu ltif i 1 t rati o n 

hy perfi It rat io n - 

- osmosis 

Centrifugal Separation 

- cyclone separation 

100 

90 

0.44 

0.50 

1.57 

0.16 

0.92 

0.90 
CHEMICAL PROCESSES 

IN OUT 

H20 Recovery 

solid polymer electrolyte electrolyzers 

water filtration 

urine electrolysis 

C02 Processing 

Co ncent rat0 rs 

electrolytic concentrator 

molecular sieve 

amine concentrator 

Reductions 

Sa bat i e r 

Bosch 

electrochemical eliminator 

direct C02 reduction 

reclaimed 02IH2 

water 

waste potable 

water 

urine c 02 I02 I 

H2&, 

o rg an ics 

co2 co2 

mix of gases mix-CO2 

diluted C02 c+02 

co2 

co2 

c+02 

02+? 

02+0 rg an i cs 

(electricity , (formaldah yde 

light) +trace organics) 

co2 
~I 

1 

f 

1 

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E 

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RECON Meeting Summary 

June 23,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Mortada Ibrahim, Gloria Johnson, James Magnuson, Bill 

Moses, C.O. Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, Peter Sharpe, 

and Bruce Wright. 

Peter Sharpe presided in the absence of Oran Nicks. 

Diets - Bruce Wright 

Wright distributed a typical vegetarian diet. After looking at the diet, the group 

discussed dividing it into three groups: (1) never grow, (2) intermediate, maybe and (3) 

good, very possibly. 

He talked about cropping system management, and the area needed. Ordinary 

growth curves are: 

8 

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Tim e 

Would need to split the plants into overlapping growth stages, planting at intervals to 

keep a regular harvest rate: 
f 

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8 

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It 

Plants have different growth rates. Will need to optimize the use of area. Need to know 

how to decide when to plant. Take into consideration the carbon balance exchange. 

He mentioned the possibility of yeast extracts (like Vegemite) which are rich in 

amino acids and sprouts, which are rich in carbohydrates. 

The group discussed various protein sources, including rabbits, fish, insects and 

birds (which produce eggs). 

Microorganisms - C.O. Patterson 

- 

information is 20 years old. 

There was a lot of activity in the 1960's, but has been very little since, so 

Space Station Crew will consume 2 Ibs 02/day/man 

or 25 liters 02/man/hour - if on a low protein, high carbohydrate diet. 

Chlorella - a green algae - weed of the algal world 

MAX RATE photosynthetic, possible rate of gas exchange: 

--> 45 I02n<g/hr 

MAX steady growth rate: 

--> 22 I 02/kg/hr 

Volume of culture material required = lOgm/l in 100% incoming light 

2.3 kg cells = 230 I algal suspension = 300 gayman for gas exchange, or 

500 I volume, including machinery, per crew member. 

C02/02 exchange ratio depends on source. 

C02/02 = 0.9 (reduced N source) 

C02/02 = 0.8 if N is provided organically - Use form of nitrate to vary. 

Temperature: Plain Chlorella requires 25'C. Chlorella TX 71 105, C. Sorokiana is a 

high temperature variety, grows in 39'C (1 03-1 05'F). 
Illumination - 400-700 nm 

1. solar - filture through glass, used as an unltraviolet screen, depending on 

thickness of glass 

2. artificial - (a) incandescent, tungsten filament - infrared - produces heat - 

efficiency of light production is low; (b) flourescent - less light, fragile, 

diffused, toxic gas at breakage, need for bulb replacement. 

Light possibilities : 

* 1. in tank, would have to circulate for all cells to receive light. 

2. circulate in tubes, past light. 

3. immerse lights in the tank. 

4. encircle with light, stir. 

Need 10-1 1 kg/man/continuously. 

Using ligh/dark periods will up the volume of algae needed. Might use water jackets, 

solve the heat problem. 

Vessels 

1. Turbidostat 

fresh medium 

1 open at 

SU s p ea:!: n@- 

test tube 

top 

larger 

photocell 

2-7 doublings/day - mass 

2.3+2.3- plain Chlorella 

2.3~9 - TX 11 705 

+ 

test tu be 

light source 
2. 

nutrient 

reservoir 

growth rate limited by 

nutrient concentrations 

Food Production 

Chlorella - 

40-50%0 pyridian 

20-30% lipid 

high protein, high fat diet - 

20% protein for humans 

Cut it, process it, etc. - grow brine shrimp, daphnia, feed them to fish 

Blue greens are 50-60%0 protein. 

1. Photosynthesis 

I- H20 + C02 -->light CH20 + O2 - green plants 

2. Chemosynthesis - chemoautrotrobes, hydrogenomas 

H2 + C02 ---> CH2O + H20 

Eat H2, scrub C02 

Photo-split H20 --> H2 + 02 (Feed H2 to algae) 

Power requirements drop 1/2 - 1 kw for mixed, 10-20 Uman - food + 02 

15-1 7% protein - gray crumb 

Less known about engineering details. 

- 
Next week's meeting will be on Monday, June 30, in Room 202, ERC, at 1 :30 p.m. 

Action Items: 

1. Hitchens - report on hydrogenomas 

2. Magnuson - seed germination 

3. Wright, Schueller, Garcia - Process alternatives for algae. Begin to look at 

space, H20 requirements for plants. 

4. Peterson and Moses - How long will 20 I liquid 02 last? Weight density/gal, 

resupply baseline, for comparing economics of supplying or resupplying 

02 
4 

Table 1. Selected Plant Used By Ptactlcfng Vegetarians 

Cequme @rea I Fru I t Veqetab I e 

Peanuts Rye 

Chestnuts Wheat 

Wa I nuts Corn 

A I mnds Oats 

. Soybeans RI ce 

1) 

Sp I It Peas 

Beans - 

Navy 

Wh tte 

Mung 

LIma 

KI dney 

Ch I c kpeas 

Lent1 Is 

Alfalfa 

. 

Orange Potato 

Grapef ru I t Cot lards 

Lemon RhubarbAPP le Carrots 

Strawberry Cabbage 

Peach Aspa ragus 

Pear Green leituce 

Watetme Ion Sp 1 nach 

Grapes Celery 

Green pepper 

Green peas 

TOmatO 

Green beans 

WI nter squash 

Beet greens 

Cucumbers 

Broccol 1 

Mlscellaneous 

Mustard sp Ice 

Nutmeg 

Celery seed 

Sesame Seed 

Oregano 

Sunflower seeds 

Ml nt 

(Active Dry Yeas 

Green onion 

Gar1 fc 

(Baking powder) 

Pars I ey 

On Ions 

(Salt) 

a 
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RECON Meeting Summary 

June 30,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Mortada Ibrahim, Gloria Johnson, James Magnuson, 

Rick Mayer, Bill Moses, Oran Nicks, C.O. Patterson, Ben Scharifker, and Bruce Wright. 

1. Oran Nicks 

Nicks reported on a recent trip to Washington. He said people at NASA 

Headquarters were interested and encouraging. They need to develop a relationship 

with engineering and life support people at JSC; they have a high regard for KSC 

people. They have done some work in hydroponic peanuts and soybeans. It will be 

possible for 1 or 2 people to go to see them, mid-July, to discuss our project and 

mutual interests. 

GE people are doing papework on the hardware and will deliver it in about two 

weeks. We need a place to put the hardware., as it will require approximately 2Olx20' 

space. Wright will check with Garcia about space in Scoates. GE may fund an effort to 

use it. Bob Murray can come, give a briefing on its use, and work with the RECON 

group in a study effort. July 28 or July 25 were discussed as tentative dates for 

Murray's visit. 

2. Duncan Hitchens - Hydrogenomonas Eutropia 

Hydrogenomonas grow on H2,02, C02 - No illuminated surface is needed. 

Gaseous exchange, to support 1 man : 

alaae 

12m2 

volume 100 liters 

power 10.4 kw/hr 

i I lu m i nated su dace 

bacteria. steadv state 

20 I 

.75 kw/hr 

-0- 

Convert all C02 of one man back into food - 02 and H2 - splitting H20 chemically 

80% of the power supply is preserved. 
other nitrogen 

necessary 

Volume - continuous culture methods (self-regulating, steady state) 

20 I ---> .72 kg/day of single cell protein 

Problems 

1. Single cell protein is not palatable. 

2. Cultures studied were in small volumes - scale up, control is less. 

3. Cultures must be regulated closely 

Under certain conditions, cultures store fat as PBH, a polymer used in biodegradable 

plastics. 

fat 
There was discussion on the use of solar power for photovoltaic - solar illumination 

would drop power reequirements; the question is cooling. 

3. Bruce Wright - Single Cell Protein Processing 

Wright used soy protein as an example. 

Extusion - would get different crunchy textures to mix with a carbohydrate source, 

flavors, etc. 

Spinning - protein isolate pressed through holes into acidic mixture, solidified, 

filaments or fibers cemented together. 

There is a need for research results in industrial microbiology during the 20 years 

since NASA's work in the 1960s. Work has been done by firms in the need for more 

modern techniques for power requirements, handling large volumes of microorganisms (pharmaceuticals, alcohol), plastic production (ICI, Upjohn, Dow, 

Merc-S harpe-Dome, Coo rs). 

4. James Magnuson - Alfalfa Sprouts 

Magnuson showed the group a standard food tray which his group developed 

under a NASA contract as a Shuttle food pack, and flew as a demonstration. The trays 

are used to grow alfalfa sprouts. Put water in, get sprouts out, with no waste products. 

The seeds are in the packet. Use a syringe to add water, sprouts are ready in three 

days. They are grown in a flat of 16 trays (64g of seeds), started at intervals to provide 

a consistent supply. 

Input - 16 packs, 49 seeds each - 3 days - non-photosynthetic, use cabin air. 

649 seeds 

560a wa& 

6249 freesh weight 

Air - 21 6 liters cabin air (80%N, 20%02) 

Power - 252 watt hrs or .252 kw/hrs 

Output - 15,120 joules 
5. Mortada lbrahim - Density figures 

55 gal 02 at 100°K will last a 4-man crew for 50 days. 

P 09 (ka!d! Temperature 'K ('C) - 

70'K (-21 OeC) 1216 

1 OO'K (-1 83'C) 1088 

150°K (-1 23'C) 672 

P NZikalrn3) 

868 

746 

300 

- 

The group discussed the use of the AI software. Defined AI as a mechanism for 

working trade-off problems with various sysytems, some physical meaning by virtue of 

input to machine. The next need is for a language for communication with the AI 

machine. For next week, will prepare to resume function modeling, using plants, bio 

part of the system. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, July 7, in Room 202, ERC, at 1 :30 p.m. 

Action Items: 

1. Peter Sharpe - present information on higher plants at next meeting. 

2. Nicks - set date for Murray's visit 

3. All - prepare to resume function modeling. 
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food Jorming. Food forming is the 

shaping of products to precise shap 

Basic techniques include extruding 

sheeting between rolls, cutting into 

crosscutting into slices or bars (cheese 

sheeting and die-cutting (cookies); s 

casing (sausage); molding in meid or st 

tics (candy): depositing metered portions 

(chocolate bits): dividing into pon 

ing by roiling over rotating metal 

dough); rounding by rotating PO 

belts traveling in opposite directio 

twisting (dough): layering by depositing on 

on top of another (candy); layering by 

folding (pastries): pufing by vacuum (can 

suddtm prcssurr relctarv (cercalsl. or bv fo 

of Kas or vnpor in (irocc.ssiiry (potaio pu 

irig by cornparitrig powd~.rcrcl or KracruI 

in dit-s by pluligt*r actioli ~~-~~lif~ctll)~~~) 

dtiny powdered mait!rial (to ftlrm larger. 

blr pnniclcs~ I)v inrrrrninyling in 

plirrr (instant tlrv milL). ,* . 
Soybean protein products. Tlie soyhran protein 

products drr prrpttrrcl From the extracted med. 

Three distinct produc.t types arc prepared: soy 

oil axtractlon. 1 he buic processing of boybeans 

cornisla of separation of the oil and meal. The 

equipment used varier coruiderably from plant to 

pl~t although the general process. solvent extraction of the oil. remains the same. Older. obsolete 

methods used either continuous screw presses or 

hydraulic presses to squeeze out the od. Solvent 

extraction has almost universally been adopted 

because of its efficiency and low operating cost. 

The steps involved in the solvent extraction of 

soybeans are outlined in Fig. 3. Storage of soybeans in elevators or silos is included as part oft he 

processing since it ensures a continuous, yearround supply of beans for processing wittiout the 

day-to-day price fluctuations ol the commodity 

market. The soybeans, prior to storage, are 

cleaned and dried to 12-1496 moisture for impmved stability until procesud. 

Preparawn. The processing operation consists 

OC preparation. extraction. and meal-finishing 

phaaes. Preparation for extraction consists of 

steam-conditioning the beans. cracking. deliulling. 

and flaking. Cracking the beans into small partida. usually six to eight pieces. loosens the hulls 

from the soybean meats and assists in the flaking 

operation. Corrugated rollers are used for the 

cracking operation. Dehulling or separation of the 

hull material from the cracked meats is necessuy 

to increase extraction efficiencies. Dehulling is 

performed by a combination OC air aspiration. 

screening, centrifugal separation. and density separation methods. Raking the cracked. dehulled 

soybean meats facilitates the extraction process by 

disruption of the internal cellular structure of the 

bean and by allowing better contact of the extracting aolvent with the internal parts of the seed. 

Flaking is done by heating and steaming the 

cracked meats and passing them through differential roller mills. The resulting flakes are paper-thin 

(0.25-0.40 mm). 

Exfraction. This operation consists of washing 

the flakes with a petroleum solvent, usually hex. 

ane. The solvent is kept near 50°C during rxtrac. 

tion to speed the solubilization of oil froin tlic* 

flakes into the solvent. The nil-ladrn wtl~~t~t. 

called micella. is then separatrd from tlir IlaLc** 

and distilled for recovery of the solvent for furtlic-r 

UYC. The crude soybean oil is then pumped to stor. 

qe tanks for funher processing or to be sold as 

crude soybean oil. 

Finuhiw. The solvent-wet. drfattcd flake* arc 

dewlventirrd Irv stcam and heat. The c- 

. 

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. ... -... -...~. ~~ -... ~. -..- "...-- r- ., 

Isolates. Soy protein isolates are the pureat 

of soy proteins marketed (0% protein min 

The isolates are prepared by solubilizing 

tein present in the grits by using mildly 

solutions. separating the protein solution 

firbrous residue by centrifugation or filtra 

acidifying the protein solution to precip 

protein as a curd. The curd is recovered, 

and resolubilized. and tlte spray is dried into 

Hourlike powder. 

ture and appearance when hydrat 

used for extension of ground an 

meats (such as ground meat and b 

the preparation o l s i m d 

extenders. the textu 

yield. aid in binding 

prove emulsion stability. 

is then dried and size 

truded soy protein pro 

tion of these additives either befoe or 

sion. Imitatioo bacon bits based on ex 

flour are widely marketed. 

Soy protein isolates are required for spinni 

Spun proteins are somewhat more adaptable 

simulated meat production than extruded protei 

Spun proteins are producrd by so1ul)ilirinp the i 

lstes in an alkaline sol 
RECON Meeting Summary 

July 7,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, James Magnuson, Bill Moses, C.O. 

Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, Peter Sharpe, Harold 

Slater, and Bruce Wright. 

Bud Peterson presided in Oran Nlcks' absence. 

1. GE Equipment - Peterson 

Peterson talked with Bob Murray at GE about space and connection 

requirements for the hardware. There are three possibilities for space: (1) Mechanical 

Engineering, (2) Agricultural Engineering, and (3) Peter Sharpe suggested there might 

be space at the new Food Protein Research Center. Food Protein is located on the 

West Campus, while the other two would be more accessible to the group. Gloria will 

circulate copies of the Operation Manual, which gives specs on the hardware. 

2. Higher Plants - Peter Sharpe 

Plant needs: 

light - 2% efficient with solar radiation 

water - recycled through the plant 

mineral nutrients - N, P, K, Ca, Fe 

temperature - 30-35' 

gravity - need a gravity barrier of some sort 

gas exchange - C02,02, N2 

G ravi t y barriers : 

gravity 

barrier 

Growth Chamber 
Space Station, with spinning chambers: 

0 4- Spinning Chamber 

Window 

John Goeschl developed a model utilizing a spinning chamber (see attached sketch). 

There are problems with using spinning chambers: (1) rotary joints with airtight seals 

are unreliable, and (2) movement is undesirable because it causes wear in other 

areas. What is needed is a capillary based, passive system. 

3. Tethered Bodies - Bruce Wright 

Wright did some work at NASA on tethered bodies, which use devices on a cable 

to drag through space, measure air flow, study flow characteristics, and create an 

artificial gravity. 
"BALLOON" for growing piants in space. 

Prel iminary Drawing: John D. Goeschl 

Outer stress bearing layer, Transparent window area 

(perhaps a f iberous net) ---.------- - --- -_ 

inated Bal loon Layerr 

Reflective 

----- 

Hatch 

__----- 

---- connector 

Condensation: shade, surf ace, catchments Suppor't Rrm 
The faster the rprn, 

the slower the linear velocity 

B is thrown out by centrifugal force 

The group discussed the dangers of being restricted to earth orbit. 

SPEED f 

(Increases) 

2 

length = rO 
4. Plant Roots - Bruce Wright 

Plant roots need air, water and nutrients. There are different ways to provide for 

the needs of both plant and roots without mess. 

1. Mixed Phase 

Air bubbles in water 

HO 

2 

Water 

I 

Air 

Separation \ 

device 

000 

Air & 

Water bubbles in air (spray) 
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2. Separate Phase 

Porous medium (soil) - Negative potential-recovery system 

Apply water at X, remove at Y Particles Saturated 

Water quotient, gradient gravity flow - pressurized 

3. Porous membranes 

Hy d rof ilic 

Root 

porous membrane Filmofwater-Rc Pw 

( Padius of curvature 

is proportional) 

Flow 100 mm/hr - 

slow flow forces 

P <P 

wa 

(w=water pressure 

a=arnbient pressure) 

Hydrophobic porous membranesuction, pull out air 

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Light response will not work for roots. 

Ionization - Develop an electronic field, with a negative charge, make roots go into 

medium and take hold. Orient the seed so the root radical will hit the soil first. 

5. Gas Exchange 

CO2 250-700 ppm on earth for plant growth 

average is 350 now, is increasing. 

Raise CO2 level, increase growth rate, yield. Use high level C02 plants. 

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2' 

Use Carbon 11 

In space - diffusion higher 

CO2 collides with N2 and 02 - drop partial 

pressure to .056. 

Water 

GAS ATM % PARTIAL PRESSURE 

N2 77 584 mrn 

19 144 rnm 02 

co2 c1 0.23 mrn 

H20 4 31.8 rnrn 

NEW PARTIAL PRESSURE 

-0- 

11.4 mm 

0.38 mm 

310 mm 
RECON Meeting Summary 

July 14,1986 

Attending: Karl Aufderheide, C. 0. Patterson, Ben Scharifker, Duncan Hitchens, James 

Magnuson, Albert Garcia, John Schueller, Bruce Wright, G. P. Peterson, Marta 

McMurray. 

C. 0. Patterson presided in Oran Nicks' absence. 

1. There is a need to do literature searches for more up-to-date material on 

regenerative concepts. The STAR reference (government documents) are in the 

library, they are put together by NASA. NASA has a database called RECON. Since 

we are working with NASA JSC, we might be able to get articles through them. 

2. Bob Murray will be here on Monday, July 28. Think about questions to ask him 

about setting up the equipment, what requirements will G.E. place on the use or 

upkeep of the equipment. Will the title be passed on to TAMU. Ask him for data records 

of expected level of operation. Amount of money expected to get it running again, it 

needs to be calibrated, it is 15 years old. Who will be responsible for setting the 

equipment up. 

Nicks 

questions and can give us an idea of what to expect. 

- contact the A&M Development Foundation. They take care of those 

- contact Dr. Richardson for space in Protein Lab for the equipment. 

There is a possibility of setting it up in the Food Protein Lab. It needs 4002 ft. of 

space minimum. The vacuum pump system may not come with it. Are there any 

technical or legal reasons why its exhaust should not be hooked up to another system? 

3. The JSC Review Meeting is on August 13. Discuss what to say and how to say it 

and decide who will talk. This will have to be done in the next two meetings 7/21 and 

8/4 (7/28 will be taken by Murray's visit). 

Ideas of presentation could be what potential applications for Closed Life 

Support Systems the GE equipment could have. Output of media. Can minerals that 

come out dry be re-watered and used? Look at systems of Closed Life Support 

Systems with oxidation on plants and microorganisms. 

4. Modeling Activities - Patterson 

The information distributed is about 20 years old. There has been some difficulty 

in locating anything more recent data. That is why literature searches are to be done. 

The handouts show the kinds of contraints and parameters that can be expected. More 

detailed than earlier ones. From Gerathewohl: Note there are no requirements for 

washing water. H2 conversion into H20, etc. Atmospheric requirements for different 

durations. How to remove various waste products. Chemical 02 producing systems. 
C02 removal systems. Effect of O2 presence on human pericrnance. No such charts 

exist for plant growth. Ask NASA for this kind of data. Figure 11.1 6 on Pg. 6 shows the 

pathways and numbers as to inputs and outputs. Recycling of urine. 

From Kammermyre: The Kinds of Atmospheric contaminants trapped in activated 

charcoal. Aromatics from plants may be a problem as contaminants. What about 

heavy metals accumulating during recycling, like chromium from the stainless steel. 

EDTA is known to be used to decontaminate the body of such metals, and could be 

added to the diet. 

Pages 3-6: Algal gas exchanges. Designs and configurations that have been 

tried. Power requirements and efficiency. 

Page 6: Yield vs. Efficiency Curve. 

5. K. Aufderheide: Biological Recycling Systems 

Protozoa are central to sewage process systems. Recycfing is done in a closed 

system which makes it applicable to a closed life support system in space. The 

IMHOFF system is characteristic of small cities and towns. The anaerobic tank 

produces many things. It takes organic stuff into inorganic material, and it is relatively 

less efficient. The protozoa need 02 circulated around them. The Ac?ivated Sludge 

System is more aerobic but still puts out smell. Requires mechanical system to stir it. 

The raw materials gather in mats which are stirred with paddles. The consumption of 

02 and the production of waste materials is big and there is a lot or weight required. 

The gases that are produced can be recycled to a fuel cell. This is being done now. 

Certain species of bacteria are associated with healthy output. It is necessary to know 

how they interact to produce sludge. Need to describe functions that describe plant 

growth, fermentation tanks, etc. and make sure that what is produced by one system is 

used by another to keep the balance. 

6. Action Items: 

1- Water processing in more detail. Search literature for numbers to be used in 

the function charts for volume, power requirements, throughput and material 

processing. 

2- Questions for Bob Murray. 

3- Wright - Methods of water processing for the Space Station. 

7. 

ERC at 1:30 pm. 

Next meeting will be held on Monday, July 21 in room 202 of the 
CONTROLS 

I TEMPERATURE 

L (ethelene, p henolqetc.) H2 0 @ GROW 

9 * BIOMASSES *Cb 0 + aminoacids,etc 

'02 

+ C0;r co;! 

NUTRIENT- 

- 

* H20 4 4 c 

SINGLE LOWER HIGHER 

CELL PLANTS PLANTS 

(BUGS) 

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RECON Meeting Summary 

August 4,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, James Magnuson, Bill Moses, Bob Murray, Oran Nicks, C.O. 

Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ed Rykiel, Ben Scharifker, John Schueller, Peter Sharpe, and Bruce Wright. 

1. Oran Nicks - Introduction 

Nicks reminded the gorup of the RTOP on closed life support systems and asked participation. 

Jerry Miller from Bioengineering attended a meeting at JSC on Biotechnology Programs. JSC is to receive 

an initial grant to develop tasks. The Project Review at JSC will be on August 13. 

2. Bob Murray - Program Manager, Spacecraft Operations, Space Systems Division, General Electric 

Murray presented information on the Integrated Waste and Water Management System which GE 

has offered to TAMU. When the system was fabricated about ten years ago, it ran for 200 days as an 

experiment, then it was put away and has not been used since. The cost to build a new system would cost 

more than double what it cost them to build this system. The best use of the system would be research 

and development to aid future space development -- lunar bases, etc. -- since the Space Station is already 

being developed. 

3. Group Discussion 

The group spent some time discussing the pros and cons of accepting the system. As setting up 

the system will be technical, not research, the group was concerned about: 

1. Who will take responsibility for the system 

2. Sources for the initial stage dollars 

3. Support for a technician to maintain the system. 

Some of the other ideas mentioned were: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Could take the individual pieces and use them for other things, if could not 

use the whole system. 

This would be a chance to move into the experiment game next year, 

sooner than we could without it. Would not be starting from scratch to build 

a system. 

It might take a year to set up, have it operational, and develop research to 

be done. Could start proposing ideas now, for next fiscal year. 

If use of the hardware would enhance our proposal position, TEES might 

provide space and support for that reason. 

Could write proposals with GE partnerships to NASA. Could propose for GE 

to provide a technician. 

For SRC to go get it, need to see proposals to use it. Could set it up as a 

facility for use in research. 
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7 . Having the system would provide a framework for research, will enhance our 

conceptual design, we can build on GEs experience. 

There are risks involved in taking the system, but there are ideas for using it. Specific suggestions 

for research included: 

1. Patterson - Could analyze output gases; examine the microbial populationof the biodigester; 

stress the system with inputs like animal or poultry waste; analyze the ash products; 

2. Sharpe - Could work with Phytoresources on projects, especiaily on capililary system plant 

growth. 

3. Wright and Schueller - waste processing and nutrient cycling; hook up sealed chambers for 

plant growth. They were concerned about the attitude of TAES that growing plants in space 

is not important to Texas agriculture. 

4. Peterson and Moses - update the system with the use of computers or strip chart recorders 

on the thermocouples, although the thermocoupling and data acquisition are technical, not 

research. 

5. Hitchens and Scharifker - Improve the instrument, update, make more efficient; ideas of how 

to cope with the C02, exit gases; look at different methods from the Bausch reactor, update 

the electrolyzer. 

Murray estimated that it would take 2 people about 2 months to set up and start the system, then a 

graduate student could maintain it. 

The group decided: 

1. We want the system. 

2. Whenever we find a place and GE is ready to bring it. 

3. Nicks will talk to TEES, GE about support. 

4. This month, need to write preliminary proposals for next year's efforts, factor in hardware. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, August 11, in Room 202, ERC, at 1 :30 p.m. Tim Hall's visit will be 

postponed until a majority of the group can be present. Instead, the presentation at JSC on August 13 will 

be discussed. 

Action Items: 

1. ALL - write preliminary proposals for research next year. 

2. Nicks - talk with TEES, GE about support and space for the system. 
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RECON Meeting Summary 

September 15,1986 

Attending: 

Peterson, and Harold Slater 

Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, Oran Nicks, C.O. Patterson, Bud 

1. Harold Slater - 02 requirements 

Slater reported on his literature search for information on the leaf area required to 

provide oxygen for humans. There was a project involving wheat production in 

controlled environments in space. It did not look at low pressure effects. Effects of 

higher concentrations of C02 at 2,000 ppm. 

Slater's summary is attached. He estimates approximately 5 square meters of leaf area 

will be required to provide oxygen for each man. 

There was discussion about his estimate. He will pursue additional literature on the 

subject. 

2. C.O. Patterson - proposal for algal culture (attached) 

Patterson's proposal starts with the RITE System, and modifies it to do other things. 

There was discussion about the proposal and its assumption that the RITE System is 

ready for use. Since we have two or three projections for experiments requiring 

engineering help, we need engineering input to develop the proposals, tie them all 

together. Patterson and Peterson will set up a meeting to discuss ways of integrating 

the engineering help into the proposals, and discuss budget requirements to do so. 

Their meeting will be Friday, September 19, 3:30 p.m., Room 204C, Evans Library. All 

members of the group are invited to attend. 

Next week's RECON group meeting will be on Monday, September 22, in Room 316, 

Teague Building, at 3:30 p.m. Please contact Gloria ahead of time if you 

cannot attend the weekly meeting. 

Action Items: 

1. Slater - continue research on leaf area requirements 

2. Patterson and Peterson - set up meeting, discuss integrating engineering plans into 

the proposals 

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RECON Meeting Summary 

September 22,1986 

Attending: Gloria Johnson, Frank Little, Bill Moses, Oran Nicks, C.O. Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ed 

Rykiel, Harold Slater, and Bruce Wright. 

1. Nicks - Status reports 

Nicks discussed the project with AI Chambers at NASA Ames. Ames will continue to be involved in 

cells research. They are interested in what we are doing, Chambers thinks it is a good idea, would 

be supportive to have the science done. He is not competitive with JSC and KSC. 

The Air Force was involved in CLSS at San Antonio in the early 703, Rich Miller at Brooks and 

Herb Ward. Patterson talked with Ward, who now is a professor of Civil Engineering at Rice. They 

are both still interested, and are congenial, but are now in other work. They tried to fly an algae 

experiment, but the culture vessel failed on takeoff. 

Bob Murray of GE submitted suggestions for in-flight experiments. His letter is attached. He outlined 

the following possibilities: 

1. Non-venting EC/LSS Development 

2. Integrated Biowaste and Trash Management 

3. Thermal Integration of EC/LSS Processes 

4. Commonized EC/LSS Process and Equipment Designs 

2. Proposal discussion 

The proposals for JSC FY87 were discussed at length. Three proposals are being considered for 

inclusion in the package: 

1. Concept Modeling 

2. Algal growth experiments 

3. Low pressure chambers for higher plant growth 

4. Solid waste experiment 

Attached are a tentative RECON Plan and a sketch which the group developed showing how the 

RITE System can be used to tie together the experiments being proposed. Time is short for 

rewriting and submitting the proposals. They are due at JSC on October 1, but time must be allowed 

for the Research Foundation to develop budgets and get signatures from various departments on 

campus, before mailing. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, September 29, in Room 316, Teague Building, at 3:30 

p.m. 

Action Items: 

All - develop proposals for submission to JSC. 
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RECON Meeting Summary 

September 29,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, Ramesh Kainthla, Bill Moses, Oran 

Nicks, C.O. Patterson, Bud Peterson, Ed Rykiel, Harold Slater, and Bruce Wright. 

The group looked at the Tasks in the project proposal, and discussed project status at 

length. They developed the following table illustrating known life support regenerative 

concepts. 

Proven Space Regen Concepts - Life support 

1. Water processing to potable, reclamation , -98% 

2. Atmosphere - dehumidify, scrub C02 

3. Food - no regeneration 

Processinq 

Atmosphere 

Water 

Food 

Waste 

4. Solid Waste - no regeneration 

Possible Under Laboratory Conditions 

1. Water reclamation, or regeneration 

2. Atmosphere - biological processing 

3. Food - biological processing with gravity 

4. Solid Waste - biochemical processing with gravity 

Assumptions Needed to Plan for Closed Systems 

1. External energy source 

2. All products launched needed to close cycle, not necessarily in form to be used. 

3. Some losses and some resupply will be required. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, October 6, in Room 316, Teague Building, at 

3:30 p.m. 

Action Items: All - Continue working on the project, as started at this meeting. 
RECON Meeting Summary 

October 6,1986 

Attending: Frank Little, C. 0. Patterson, Harold Slater, Bill Moses, Bud Peterson, 

Duncan Hitchens, Oran Nicks and Marta McMurray. 

1. Nicks - The proposals were sent to JSC and two other NASA centers. A copy of 

the proposals was passed around to those present for review. A copy will be included 

with the minutes of this meeting. 

Nicks read the specifications for the closed life support systems in a publication 

entitled "Engineering and Configurations of Space Stations and Platforms" (NASA). 

Which describes the need for gas exchange parameters. 

2. Patterson distributed copies of articles on Atmospheric Closure; one article in 

1964 in which they accomplished 98% closure, another article from March, 1986 in 

which the authors tried to repeat the previous experiment including the effects of 

different forms of Nitrogen on algal growth. And a bibliography done in the 1970's of 

the requirements for atmospheric regeneration using algal systems, including volume 

requirements, modes of operation, illumination, area illuminated, watt requirements, 

etc. All of these were done under idealized conditions and none included humans. 

This demonstrates that a fair amount of information is available, but most of the data is 

20 years old, none less than ten years. Most experiments included all containers 

made of glass and used small mammals. Would contaminants have an effect on the 

system and its components? 

Cultivation of algae started 75 years ago with Chlorella which is the most 

common. Later, blue-green algae studies and cultures were develcped. Patterson 

would use two criteria for studying certain species of algae. 1) suitability for human 

consumption; 2) ease of repetitive growth. 
RECON Summary, October 6, 1986 

Nicks: We need to know how much this is to gain by closed systems. How are 

we going to close both systems of gas and food? 

Algae are more efficient for gas exchange alone because they make 02 only; 

they are freely suspended in H20; do not orient toward gravitational fields and 

therefore can grow in zero G. They have not been considered good until now because 

their value as human food has only recently been recognized. It would be best to 

leave the food production to the higher plants. 

An explanation of what it takes to grow algae: 

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They reach a standard population in 36 to 48 hours. Then the nutrients or light are 

regulated to adjust the regeneration time to maintain steady output of oxygen and 

steady increase of cell mass. The algae can be reused for their own nutrients by doing 

a complete wet oxidation. 

C02 + hv (light) + minerals + cells -------- i 02 + more cells 

Cells + O2 ----------- A C02 + H20 + minerals 

In animals the Respiratory Quotient or RQ equals: 

2 
RECON Summary, October 6, 1986 

If the animal were all carbohydrate, then the RQ = 1, but animals are part protein, 

so you have NH3 + 02 ------------ + NO3 and the real RQ ends up equaling more like 

0.8-0.9. Tha Assimilatory Quotient (reverse of RQ) equals: 

if plants were carbohydrate alone, it would be equal to 1, but they are not, so: 

NO3 + H2 = NH3,consequently, the AQ is 0.8-0.9. 

If RQ = AQ, there is no difficulty in keeping the system in balance. Because in reality 

they are not equal, there is some inbalance. 

Now what the group has to do is make the experiment an engineering system 

design. 

NEXT MEETING - MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, IN ROOM 316, TEAGUE 

BUILDING, AT 3:30 PM. 

ACTION ITEMS: 

Patterson - write up the experiment needs for one human being and give these 

numbers to the Peterson and the other engineers and let them make the engineering 

desig n. 

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Enclosures: Proposals to JSC 

Copy of ECLSS Description by NASA 

3 
RECON Meeting Summary 

October 13,1986 

Attending: Duncan Hitchens, Gloria Johnson, Bill Moses, Oran Nicks, C.O. Patterson, 

Bud Peterson, Harold Slater, and Bruce Wright. 

1. Wright - cyclone separator 

Bruce drew the following sketch of a cyclone separator, for possible use in algae 

growth. 

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2. KEE Update 

Rykiel was not present, but he sent word that he went to MCC last week and brought 

back four more Xerox workstations. Now, he has one for his use, and it works. He is 

attending a shortcourse on function modeling which Rick Mayer is teaching. When Ed 

is ready, he wants to invite Jane Malin to come up and demonstrate the work that she 

did at JSC using KEE software. 

3. Patterson - Summary of the design specifications for algal bio-reactors 

C.O. presented his summary and it was discussed (copy attached). Peterson and 

Moses will take the specifications and do the conceptual engineering as a starting 

point for developing a concept that can be used on the moon. The bio-reactors in his 

summary have been used for years, and the engineers will try to come up with a better 

engineering design. 
4. RITE System Location 

We stili need laboratory space for the RITE System, before we can make arrangements 

to accept it. There are stili two pcssibilities: (1) with AgricultiJrai Engineering in 

Scoates, possibly using some ccld rooms which are there; (2) the ERC, if space can be 

located there. Nicks will continue to pursue the space problem with Ken Hall at TEES 

and Bob Merrifield at TAES. 

5. Mid-Term Project Report 

The Mid-Term Project Report will be due on November 15. We will need to summarize 

what we have done, to inform the sponsor and other potential sponsors. As there is a 

dearth of information on integrated systems, we are doing a first look, and are in a 

position to take a lead role. Nicks and Johnson will outline the report, and give out a 

draft for the group to redo, with some of the group members contributing information in 

their areas. 

Next week's meeting will be on Monday, October 20, in Room 316, Teague Building, 

at 350 p.m. Please cofitac? Gloria if you are not able to attend. 

Action Items for next week: 

1. Ed Rykiel - Tell LIS where we go from here on function mode!ing. 

2. All - start on "straw man" model by hand, in preparation for doing the functicn 

modeling . 

3. Paterson and Mcses - start on engineering design ?or algae growth