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Waste Container Filtration to Minimize Microbial Escape During Long-Term Storage on MarsIn the search for life on Mars, keeping its surface pristine and free of microbes due to human presence is of utmost importance. Astronauts will use emptied logistics containers during their Mars stay to store waste. These containers will be left on the planet’s surface and are a potential source of microorganism contamination. It is desired for these containers to be free from leaks for a minimum of 50 years. If leaks do occur, a likely location will be at any ports. At these locations the mating surfaces will be sealed using a flexible gasket material like a thin metal or a polymer. Eventually these seals will fail. To mitigate these effects, a particulate filter can be employed to equilibrate the pressure between the Martin environment and inside the container. To meet planetary protection requirements, the filter can only allow particulates smaller than 0.2 μm diameter to pass. This paper discusses why a particulate filter may be needed and how such a filter could be tested to survive and operate in the harsh Martian environment.
Document ID
20240008501
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Steven Sepka
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, United States)
Greg Pace
(Wyle (United States) El Segundo, California, United States)
Andy Spry
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Mountain View, United States)
Date Acquired
July 3, 2024
Subject Category
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 53rd International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES)
Location: Louisville, KY
Country: US
Start Date: July 21, 2024
End Date: July 25, 2024
Sponsors: Leidos (United States)
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 089407.05.03.02
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA14AB82C
CONTRACT_GRANT: 80HQTR20D0005
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
Keywords
planetary protection
waste storage
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