OSSA Space Station Waste Inventory 871413

An inventory was made of the quantities and types of wastes to be produced by typical missions proposed by NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) for the initial operational phase (IOC) of the Space Station. Of the 35 missions inventoried, 21 missions involve “payloads” (instrument packages) attached externally to the Space Station, 12 involve payloads that are located on “free-flying” platforms remote from the Station and 2 missions, (Life Sciences and Materials Sciences laboratories) comprise a complex series of experiments to be carried out inside the Station's pressurized volume. The study objective was to acquire the information needed to define preliminary OSSA waste management requirements for the Space Station and the National Space Transportation System. The study revealed that all missions combined will generate approximately 5350 kg (11800 lbs) of waste (solid, liquid and gas) every 90 days. Additionally some free-flyer servicing missions will generate an estimated 3000 kg (6600 lbs) every two years. The wastes were also categorized by their handling characteristics such as toxic, corrosive and biologically active. Potential uses and users for the results of this preliminary inventory are discussed in terms of planning for efficient and safe management of typical waste materials.