NASA develops new compression technique to dispose trash in space
Tossing out waste on earth is a breeze. Tossing waste while out in space isn’t such a smart idea however! Instead, researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center in California have come up with a fantastic way to put waste to rest. The team has designed a compactor that melts waste without incineration. An extremely efficient process, this compactor is capable of transforming a day’s worth of waste into an 8-inch diameter tile.
These tiles can then be used to shield sleeping areas of astronauts from radiation. Currently, the team is figuring out ways to completely sterilize these tiles. Bacteria-laden tiles being stuffed into an enclosed area can indeed cause health concerns. All NASA needs to do for now is craft a way to recycle water and make it all potable once again for space-crews.