Test System Build for a Waste Container Filter to Prevent Microbial Leaks During Long-Term Storage On Mars

In the search for life on Mars, contamination due to human presence needs to be kept to a minimum. Astronauts will use emptied logistics containers during their stay to store waste. These containers will be left on the planet’s surface and are a potential source of microorganism contamination. Terrestrial microbes can confound or even prohibit planetary scientists from being able to detect life that originated on Mars. To help prevent microbial leaks the use of a filters has been proposed to equilibrate pressure and relieve stresses between the container’s interior and the surrounding Martian environment. Filters will also allow volatiles within the waste to escape the container but still keep microbes constrained inside. For such a system to work, the filtration system must be extremely robust to withstand the harsh Martian environment. There are many design issues involved. Two of particular importance is the potential for Martian dust to clog the filter and another is with liquid water freezing within the filter causing its pore size to expand or the filter to break. To address these issues, two test facilities will be used. One is the particulate filtration test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). The other is at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) and uses an environmental test chamber able to reach Martian environmental conditions of -70°C and 600Pa. This paper describes how these facilities will be used in the design a filtration system.