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Distant and/or long-term missions, particularly Mars and lunar bases, will require a high degree of regenerative systems utilization. Bio-regenerative systems inherently lend themselves to integrative application, and can serve multiple processing functions in Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems. Striving for maximal use of bio-regenerative systems can reveal possibilities and relationships difficult to conceptualize within the context of a “unit process” methodology common to physico-chemical (P/C) systems. The required regenerative functions of biomass production and solid, liquid, and air processing are discussed, and a potential integrated ALS system scenario including “soil'based” plant production is developed to illustrate potential ramifications of biological (and P/C) system integration.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) systems of current and previous space flight missions have employed relatively uncomplicated methods of waste collection, storage and return to Earth. NASA's long-term objectives, however, will likely include human-rated missions that are longer in both duration and distance, with little to no opportunity for re-supply. Such missions will likely exert increased demands upon all sub-systems, particularly the SWM system. In order to provide guidance to SWM Research and Technology Development (R&TD) efforts and overall system development, the establishment of appropriate SWM system requirements is necessary. Because future long duration missions are not yet fully defined, thorough mission-specific requirements have not yet been drafted.

Long duration missions pose substantial new challenges for solid waste management in Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems. These possibly include storing large volumes of waste material in a safe manner, rendering wastes stable or sterilized for extended periods of time, and/or processing wastes for recovery of vital resources. This is further complicated because future missions remain ill-defined with respect to waste stream quantity, composition and generation schedule. Without definitive knowledge of this information, development of mission requirements is hampered. Additionally, even if waste streams were well characterized, other operational and processing needs require clarification (e.g. resource recovery requirements and planetary protection constraints). Therefore, the development of solid waste management (SWM) subsystem requirements for long duration space missions is an inherently uncertain, complex and iterative process.

The On-line Project Information System (OPIS) is a LAMP-based (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) system being developed at NASA Ames Research Center to improve Agency information transfer and data availability, largely for improvement of system analysis and engineering. The tool will enable users to investigate NASA technology development efforts, connect with experts, and access technology development data. OPIS is currently being developed for NASA's Exploration Life Support (ELS) Project. Within OPIS, NASA ELS Managers assign projects to Principal Investigators (PI), track responsible individuals and institutions, and designate reporting assignments. Each PI populates a “Project Page” with a project overview, team member information, files, citations, and images. PI's may also delegate on-line report viewing and editing privileges to specific team members. Users can browse or search for project and member information.

The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Project has accelerated an effort to develop an On-line Project Information System (OPIS) for research and technology development (R&TD) data centralization and sharing. This paper presents the OPIS development strategy and status. OPIS is being built as an application framework consisting of an underlying Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP (LAMP) stack and supporting class libraries, which provide database abstraction and automatic code generation. This approach simplifies the development and maintenance process. The approach also allows for quick adaptation to serve multiple Programs/Projects, although initial deployment is for an ALS module. Data will be located on a secure server at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). Initial functionality of OPIS will involve a Web-based solicitation of project and technology data, directly from ALS Principal Investigators (PIs) through data collection forms.

An ongoing effort is underway at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) to develop an On-line Project Information System (OPIS) for the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program. The objective of this three-year project is to develop, test, revise and deploy OPIS to enhance the quality of decision-making metrics and attainment of Program goals through improved knowledge sharing. OPIS will centrally locate detailed project information solicited from investigators on an annual basis and make it readily accessible by the ALS Community via a Web-accessible interface. The data will be stored in an object-oriented relational database (created in MySQL®) located on a secure server at NASA ARC. OPIS will simultaneously serve several functions, including being an research and technology development (R&TD) status information hub that can potentially serve as the primary annual reporting mechanism for ALS-funded projects.

The growth of Swiss chard in compost, Mars regolith simulant, and mixtures thereof, was studied for application in Advanced Life Support (ALS) systems, particularly Mars/lunar based operations. The purpose was to begin characterizing a sustainable biomass production method based on compost derived from inedible biomass. Compost would serve both as a means of recycling plant nutrients while improving the physical qualities of regolith as a plant growth medium. An outpost’s cropping area could be expanded by blending a minimal amount of compost (scarce, initially imported resource) and a maximal amount of regolith (plentiful local resource), consistent with adequate crop yields. Swiss chard was selected for the study as it is an ALS crop candidate for which there are little data.