Logistics Reduction Advancements and Future Plans for NASA's Exploration MissionsManagement of logistics on exploration missions includes both looking for ways to minimize the quantities, mass and volume of various consumables, supplies, spares, and equipment as well as ways to minimize the crew time needed for locating and handling those items. Also included are ways to minimize the waste, handling, and resultant products from the processes of maintaining a crew on these missions. The Logistics Reduction project encompasses technologies for management of waste, trash, autonomous logistics, and clothing. This paper provides a status of work from 2023 in these areas including recent accomplishments and challenges encountered. Future objectives and plans for 2024 will also be covered along with the work currently in progress. Specifically, the paper will cover technologies in waste management, namely, the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) or exploration toilet and work on an alternative waste collection container, the Alternate Fecal Canister. Trash management technologies work on the Trash Compaction Processing System (TCPS) and Trash to Gas (TtG) is summarized with progress to date as well as information on how Jettison as an option is related. Progress and summary of recent accomplishment on the RFID (Radio Frequency ID) Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management (REALM) and the Autonomous Logistics (AL) technologies is detailed. Advanced Clothing System (ACS) and work in the area of Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) is also included. Status of the technologies, accomplishments and how the focus areas inform program decisions will be addressed.
Document ID
20240004481
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Melissa K. McKinley (Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, United States)
Michael K. Ewert (Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, United States)
Melissa A. Borrego (Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, United States)
Patrick Fink (Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas, United States)
Steven Sepka (Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Justine Richardson (Ames Research Center Mountain View, United States)
Ray Pitts (Kennedy Space Center Merritt Island, Florida, United States)
Anne Meier (Kennedy Space Center Merritt Island, Florida, United States)
Curtis Hill (Jacobs (United States) Dallas, Texas, United States)
Date Acquired
April 13, 2024
Subject Category
Man/System Technology and Life Support
Report/Patent Number
ICES-2024-073
Meeting Information
Meeting: 53rd International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES)