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Program for
Space-borne and Earthbound System Sustainability
A Base Program of the Iowa Space Grant Consortium |
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MISSION:
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The mission of PSESS is to
work across disciplines to develop sustainable
technologies to support space exploration.
This includes research
into sustainable food, fuel, and environmental systems,
as well as engaging students and the community in the
issues of sustainable systems. |
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RESEARCH AREAS:
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Enabling technologies |
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The equipment and methodologies used
in the creation and consumption of resources as part of sustainable
systems. Examples include: plants as odor removal systems, washing
machines, noise control, protocol recovery, and ultrasonic technology
for processing and waste treatment. |
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Design |
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engineering individual elements of the system
to be multi-functional, and to accept inputs and generate outputs that
connect with other pieces of the system. Multi-functionality is critical,
so that rather than a suite of individualized equipment, a smaller number of
pieces of equipment with multiple purposes can be carried on space missions. |
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Systems Analysis |
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to the process of determining where individual
components connect, and assessing the extent to which the use and creation of
resources in the system is indeed a closed or semi-closed cycle. Tools
utilized in the systems analysis theme include computer simulation and
visualization. |
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PERSONNEL:
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Amy
Kaleita and
Eliot Winer, Directors |
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Participating Faculty:
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Adin Mann, Mechanical Engineering |
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Gwyn Beattie, Plant
Pathology |
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David Grewell,
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering |
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Jay-Lin Jane, Food Science
and Human Nutrition |
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Michael Kessler, Material
Science and Engineering |
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Richard Larock, Chemistry |
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Deland Myers, Food Science
and Human Nutrition |
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Anthony Pometto, Food
Science and Human Nutrition |
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Cheryll Reitmeier, Food
Science and Human Nutrition |
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Lester Wilson, Food
Science and Human Nutrition |
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Jacek Koziel, Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering |
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PROJECTS:
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Odor control |
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Investigating the purifying potential of plants -
Gwynn Beattie and Plant Pathology PhD Student Amarjyoti Sandhu |
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Design optimization |
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Design of a steam cleaning system - Adin Mann, Eliot Winer, ChemE student
Maggie Welch, and high school student Whitney Blanco
Optimal growth conditions
for soybeans in a closed system - Amy Kaleita and AeroE
student Kimberly Ferguson |
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Sustainable materials |
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Self-healing polymer
composites
- Mike Kessler and AeroE
student Rick Rainy
Waste breakdown and corn
oil extraction technologies - Dave Grewell and AIT MS
student Cody Hearn |
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Food systems |
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Influence of radiation encountered on Mars missions on the yield and
quality of soymilk and tofu from bulk soybeans -
Lester Wilson and Food Science MS student Chiew-Lin Chia |
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Environmental monitoring |
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Sampling design for remote
sensing validation - Amy Kaleita, ABE PhD student Lingyuan
Yang, and high school student Elmoiz Ibrahim
In situ nitrate sensing
- Amy Kaleita, ABE PhD student Giorgi Chighladze, and
undergraduate intern Rachel Hung |
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Revised:
01/17/2008 |
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Iowa Space Grant Consortium
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