Program for Spaceborne and Earthbound System Sustainability

PSESS

Program for Spaceborne and Earthbound System Sustainability

 

A base program of the Iowa Space Grant Consortium

 

Mission

 

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.

 

Research Areas

 

Enabling Technologies

The equipment and methodologies used in the creation and consumption of resources as part of sustainable systems.  Examples include: plants as odor removal systems, low-input washing machines, noise control, and ultrasonic technology for processing and waste-treatment.

Design

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.

Systems Analysis

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.

 

For more information

Dr. Amy Kaleita

Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering

Phone: 515.294.5167

Email: kaleita@iastate.edu

 

Dr. Eliot Winer

Mechanical Engineering

Email: ewiner@iastate.edu