You can now take out all the rubbish from the International Space Station.
Nanoracks is a Houston-based private space company that has successfully tried a new technology to streamline waste disposal in outerspace.
Nanoracks installed a waste container which can store up to 600 lbs of trash inside their Bishop Airlock on July 2.
After the waste bag has been released into the air, it is burned up and the Airlock is returned empty.
Scroll down to see the video
Cooper Read, the Bishop Airlock program manager for Nanoracks stated that waste collection in space is a problem which has been long-standing but not widely discussed. This is Nanoracks’ new technology that dumps trash into outerspace.
“This test not only demonstrates space station waste removal, but also highlights the potential of the ISS to be used as a testbed for commercial technology, providing critical insight into how we can prepare the next phase of low Earth orbit commercial LEO destinations,” said Dr. Amela, Nanocracks CEO.
Currently astronauts must collect and keep trash on the ISS, waiting for Cygnus to come and take it away.
Once Cygnus has finished its main mission, astronauts empty the spacecraft of trash. The spacecraft then is sent back to Earth for de-orbit. At that point, it will burn up in the atmosphere.
In partnership with NASA, the company tested its technology for the first time. It contained about 172 pounds worth of trash, including foam, packing materials, cargo transfers bags and dirty crew clothes.
Nanoracks created a new waste container for 600-pound trash, which was deployed on July 2 by the company. It’s housed in its Bishop Airlock. The International Space Station is shown in the picture.
Nanoracks notes that four astronauts could generate as much trash each year as 2,500 kilograms or approximately two trash cans every week. Above is an example of how the technology was deployed.
Cooper Read (Nanoracks program manager for Bishop Airlock) stated in a statement that “Waste collection from space has been a longstanding challenge, though not as publically discussed,”
“Four astronauts are capable of producing up to 2,500kgs of garbage per year. That’s about the equivalent of two trash cans per day.
“As people move to a world where more people live and work in space, this function is just as important for all of us at home.
Based on flight-proven, highly successful Nanoracks Cubesat Deployers (NRCSD), and SmallSat(Kaber), the new system.
It is noted that Bishop allows proof-of concept operations as well as subsystem testing and the possibility to expose the hardware to radiation and launch satellites.
EXPLAINED – THE $100 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPACES STATION SLITS 250 MILES AROUND THE EARTH
The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.
Since November 2000, it has been permanently manned by rotating teams of astronauts and cosmos.
Crews have mostly come from Russia and America, though the Japanese space agency JAXA has also sent astronauts.
Since its inception, the International Space Station (ISS) has been continuously occupied by astronauts for over 20 years. It has seen numerous upgrades and new modules.
Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen.
ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.
The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion (£2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, with the remaining funding coming from international partners, including Europe, Russia and Japan.
So far 244 individuals from 19 countries have visited the station, and among them eight private citizens who spent up to $50 million for their visit.
A debate continues about what will happen to the station after 2025. Some of its original structures may eventually die.
Russia, which is an important partner for the station’s construction, will launch its orbital platform in that same period. Axiom Space (a private firm) plans to also send modules directly to the station.
NASA, ESA (JAXA), JAXA (Canada Space Agency) and CSA are working in tandem to create a space station on orbit around the Moon. Russia, China and Russia are also working on a similar project that could include a base for the surface.