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Design Challenge TWO

Keep it clean

NASA has developed processes and systems for keeping the International Space Station clean and free of debris, but how well will those systems work on a long-duration, deep-space mission?

Design a waste management plan for the astronauts on their journey to Mars.

One system that works well in low-Earth orbit — but may have to be rethought for deep-space missions — is the disposal of human waste, packaging, clothing and broken equipment.

The trash is stored safely until a cargo vehicle arrives to resupply the space station. The waste is transferred to the vehicle, which undocks from the space station and burns up re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.

So think twice before you wish on that shooting star — it might actually be trash from the space station.

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Before you start

Make sure you have the Adult Sponsor/Educator Guide and the Design Notebook.

Warm up Activities

Water, water everywhere

Recycled sweat, urine and environmental humidity account for 90 percent of the astronauts’ drinking water. Try building a water filtration system with NASA’s Cleaning Water Activity. (Get the teacher’s guide here and the student worksheet here.)

Pack light

The Russian Progress spacecraft and Japan’s HTV cargo vehicle are the automated, unpiloted vehicles that resupply the space station every three months, then take trash away. Try this NASA Space and Food activity to see the math and science that goes into maximizing food deliveries.

Fun Facts

What goes in must come out

A few things to think about when designing the waste-management system for your two-year deep-space mission vehicle:

  • There are three types of trash aboard the space station: common, hardware and human waste.

  • About two cubic feet of trash is collected daily in a Cargo Transfer Bag and stored in a specific area of the space station.

  • Calcium sulfate in urine can clog the water filtration system with deposits that astronauts call “pee brittle.”

  • Astronauts vacuum the space station’s vents periodically to remove food, pens and other debris.

Other Design Challenges

Design Challenge One

What's for dinner?

Design a plan for feeding astronauts on a journey to Mars and back.

View Challenge »

Design Challenge Three

Cabin fever

Imagine not being able to leave your house for six months or a year. That is about what it is like to live on the space station.

View Challenge »

Design Challenge Four

Shields up!

Millions of pieces of orbital debris have the potential to collide with things like satellites, the space station or an astronaut out on a spacewalk.

View Challenge »

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