title: Composting in advanced life support systems.
abstract: Space missions of extended duration are currently hampered by the prohibitive costs of external resupply. To reduce the need for resupply, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently testing methods to recycle solid wastes, water, and air. Composting can be an integral part of a biologically based waste treatment/recycling system.  Results indicate that leachate from composted plant wastes is not inhibitory to seed germination and contains sufficient inorganic minerals to support plant growth. Other solid wastes, for example kitchen (food) wastes and human solid wastes, can be composted with inedible plant residues to safely reduce the volume of the wastes and levels of microorganisms potentially pathogenic to humans. Finished compost could serve as a medium for plant growth or mushroom production.
authors.affiliation: NASA, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899, USA.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sager
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alazraki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loader
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D018525:Germination; D018527:Hydroponics; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals