NextSTEP-2 Appendix F: Trash Compaction and Processing System (TCPS)

Added: May 24, 2018 11:36 am Modified: Aug 01, 2018 1:27 pmTrack Changes References in section 7.3 updated to include web addresses.



Notices of Intent are Due:  July 30, 2018, 5:00 PM Eastern Time


Proposals are Due:  August 22, 2018, 5:00 PM Eastern Time


NASA supports public-private partnerships for achieving its strategic goals and objectives for expanding the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunities in space. The next step for human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is into cislunar space and destinations to planetary bodies. An important part of NASA's strategy is to stimulate the commercial space industry while leveraging those commercial capabilities through public-private partnerships and potentially through future contracts to deliver mission capabilities at lower costs. NASA's ultimate goal is to develop capabilities to enable missions that are not reliant on resupply from Earth thus making them more sustainable and affordable. NASA is implementing this by employing a capability-driven approach to its human spaceflight strategy. The approach is based on developing a suite of evolving capabilities that provide specific functions to solve exploration challenges. These investments in initial capabilities can continuously be leveraged and reused, enabling more complex operations over time and exploration of more distant solar system destinations.


NASA intends to issue an Appendix to the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships -2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in the near future to solicit ideas and technologies for a Trash Compaction and Processing System (TCPS). The TCPS is part of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Habitat's Logistics Reduction (LR), with the objective to identify and develop technologies that reduce logistical mass, volume, and the crew time dedicated to logistics management. The TCPS objectives are: (1) trash compaction to a suitable form for efficient long-endurance storage; (2) safe processing of trash to eliminate and/or reduce the risk of biological activity; (3) stabilize the trash physically, geometrically, and biologically; and (4) manage gaseous, aqueous, and particulate effluents. The TCPS will be the first step toward development and testing of a fully-integrated unit for further Exploration Missions and future space vehicles.


The objectives of this BAA appendix will implement the first of two phases. Phase A will be to develop and provide a proof of concept for a complete trash compaction and processing system with a goal to develop final requirements for a follow-on Phase B flight demonstration unit on the International Space Station (ISS). The expected outcome of Phase A efforts is a validated concept able to mature into flight demonstrations on the ISS within three years. A future follow-on BAA is planned for delivery of that ISS flight unit. Detailed submission information, participant eligibility, additional topic information and specific evaluation criteria for the solicitation will be identified in the Appendix.


It is anticipated that the development of the desired capabilities within a singular facility will require the integration of multiple enabling technologies. Thus, partnering between industries with complementary technologies, as well as with academic research units, will result in the most competitive proposals and is strongly encouraged.

Added: May 24, 2018 11:36 am Modified: Jul 03, 2018 1:32 pmTrack Changes Notices of Intent are Due:  July 30, 2018, 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Proposals are Due:  August 22, 2018, 5:00 PM Eastern Time


NASA supports public-private partnerships for achieving its strategic goals and objectives for expanding the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunities in space. The next step for human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is into cislunar space and destinations to planetary bodies. An important part of NASA's strategy is to stimulate the commercial space industry while leveraging those commercial capabilities through public-private partnerships and potentially through future contracts to deliver mission capabilities at lower costs. NASA's ultimate goal is to develop capabilities to enable missions that are not reliant on resupply from Earth thus making them more sustainable and affordable. NASA is implementing this by employing a capability-driven approach to its human spaceflight strategy. The approach is based on developing a suite of evolving capabilities that provide specific functions to solve exploration challenges. These investments in initial capabilities can continuously be leveraged and reused, enabling more complex operations over time and exploration of more distant solar system destinations.


NASA intends to issue an Appendix to the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships -2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in the near future to solicit ideas and technologies for a Trash Compaction and Processing System (TCPS). The TCPS is part of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Habitat's Logistics Reduction (LR), with the objective to identify and develop technologies that reduce logistical mass, volume, and the crew time dedicated to logistics management. The TCPS objectives are: (1) trash compaction to a suitable form for efficient long-endurance storage; (2) safe processing of trash to eliminate and/or reduce the risk of biological activity; (3) stabilize the trash physically, geometrically, and biologically; and (4) manage gaseous, aqueous, and particulate effluents. The TCPS will be the first step toward development and testing of a fully-integrated unit for further Exploration Missions and future space vehicles.


The objectives of this BAA appendix will implement the first of two phases. Phase A will be to develop and provide a proof of concept for a complete trash compaction and processing system with a goal to develop final requirements for a follow-on Phase B flight demonstration unit on the International Space Station (ISS). The expected outcome of Phase A efforts is a validated concept able to mature into flight demonstrations on the ISS within three years. A future follow-on BAA is planned for delivery of that ISS flight unit. Detailed submission information, participant eligibility, additional topic information and specific evaluation criteria for the solicitation will be identified in the Appendix.


It is anticipated that the development of the desired capabilities within a singular facility will require the integration of multiple enabling technologies. Thus, partnering between industries with complementary technologies, as well as with academic research units, will result in the most competitive proposals and is strongly encouraged.

Added: May 24, 2018 11:36 am NASA supports public-private partnerships for achieving its strategic goals and objectives for expanding the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunities in space. The next step for human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is into cislunar space and destinations to planetary bodies. An important part of NASA's strategy is to stimulate the commercial space industry while leveraging those commercial capabilities through public-private partnerships and potentially through future contracts to deliver mission capabilities at lower costs. NASA's ultimate goal is to develop capabilities to enable missions that are not reliant on resupply from Earth thus making them more sustainable and affordable. NASA is implementing this by employing a capability-driven approach to its human spaceflight strategy. The approach is based on developing a suite of evolving capabilities that provide specific functions to solve exploration challenges. These investments in initial capabilities can continuously be leveraged and reused, enabling more complex operations over time and exploration of more distant solar system destinations.


NASA intends to issue an Appendix to the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships -2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in the near future to solicit ideas and technologies for a Trash Compaction and Processing System (TCPS). The TCPS is part of the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Habitat's Logistics Reduction (LR), with the objective to identify and develop technologies that reduce logistical mass, volume, and the crew time dedicated to logistics management. The TCPS objectives are: (1) trash compaction to a suitable form for efficient long-endurance storage; (2) safe processing of trash to eliminate and/or reduce the risk of biological activity; (3) stabilize the trash physically, geometrically, and biologically; and (4) manage gaseous, aqueous, and particulate effluents. The TCPS will be the first step toward development and testing of a fully-integrated unit for further Exploration Missions and future space vehicles.


The objectives of this BAA appendix will implement the first of two phases. Phase A will be to develop and provide a proof of concept for a complete trash compaction and processing system with a goal to develop final requirements for a follow-on Phase B flight demonstration unit on the International Space Station (ISS). The expected outcome of Phase A efforts is a validated concept able to mature into flight demonstrations on the ISS within three years. A future follow-on BAA is planned for delivery of that ISS flight unit. Detailed submission information, participant eligibility, additional topic information and specific evaluation criteria for the solicitation will be identified in the Appendix.


It is anticipated that the development of the desired capabilities within a singular facility will require the integration of multiple enabling technologies. Thus, partnering between industries with complementary technologies, as well as with academic research units, will result in the most competitive proposals and is strongly encouraged.