NASA has begun testing a mobile wastewater treatment facility designed to support long-term human habitation on the Moon and Mars.
The Divergent Deployable Wastewater Treatment Facility is intended to transform wastewater generated by crew members into reusable resources, helping reduce dependence on supplies transported from Earth.
Unlike conventional wastewater treatment systems, the facility processes different waste streams separately to maximise resource recovery.
Suspended aerobic membrane bioreactor: Processes urine and flush water, helping recover nutrients and prepare water for reuse.
Together, these systems recover nutrients and produce treated water that can be reused within the habitat.
NASA has begun testing a mobile wastewater treatment facility designed to support long-term human habitation on the Moon and Mars. The system, developed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has been transferred to the University of North Dakota, where it will be evaluated in a habitat that simulates the conditions of future extraterrestrial missions.
The Divergent Deployable Wastewater Treatment Facility is intended to transform wastewater generated by crew members into reusable resources, helping reduce dependence on supplies transported from Earth. At the University of North Dakota, the technology has been integrated with the institution’s Integrated Lunar/Martian Analog Habitat, allowing researchers and students to assess its performance in a realistic operational environment.
Unlike conventional wastewater treatment systems, the facility processes different waste streams separately to maximise resource recovery. The treatment process relies on three specialised bioreactors:
Anaerobic phototrophic membrane bioreactor: Treats fecal matter and food waste, converting organic material into a nutrient-rich liquid suitable for supporting plant growth.
Treats fecal matter and food waste, converting organic material into a nutrient-rich liquid suitable for supporting plant growth. Suspended aerobic membrane bioreactor: Processes urine and flush water, helping recover nutrients and prepare water for reuse.
Processes urine and flush water, helping recover nutrients and prepare water for reuse. Membrane aerated biological reactor: Treats greywater generated from hygiene and laundry activities, removing contaminants and improving water quality.
Together, these systems recover nutrients and produce treated water that can be reused within the habitat. The facility also incorporates water polishing technologies, environmental monitoring systems, autonomous controls and a hydroponic vertical garden. Researchers will compare crops grown using nutrients recovered from wastewater with plants cultivated using conventional hydroponic nutrient solutions.
The testing programme will examine system reliability, operational requirements and crew training needs in a closed-loop environment. The results are expected to support the development of sustainable life-support systems for future lunar and Martian missions.
The project forms part of NASA’s broader efforts to advance bioregenerative life-support technologies capable of recycling water, recovering nutrients and supporting food production beyond Earth. Researchers are also exploring how recovered resources could contribute to future manufacturing processes in space, further reducing the need for resupply missions and supporting more self-sufficient human settlements on other planetary bodies.
