In Nevada, Sierra Nevada Corporation received a contract modification to focus on the development of advanced bio-based life support and food production systems for NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships. SNC will continue its public-private partnership with NASA to develop its Hybrid Life Support System for application in microgravity space environments.
This effort will focus on the development of plant-based modules that can recycle drinking water from waste water streams, regenerate oxygen from carbon dioxide, produce fresh food for astronauts and support radiation protection of the crew while on deep exploration missions, such as missions to Mars. The development and testing will be done at SNC’s Madison, Wisconsin offices.
The contract modification spans two years and includes testing to evaluate key technologies with short periods of microgravity while aboard an aircraft performing parabolic flight maneuvers. The planned future efforts may include extended testing in microgravity aboard the space station.