Space-Tech Solutions
For Water And Sustainability
(16 July 2008) Tomorrow INASMET-Tecnalia and ESA is holding a workshop on space innovation for water management at an event billed as the "biggest water festival on Earth".
The International Exhibition of Zaragoza 2008 will take place from 14 June to 14 September 2008, in the capital Zaragoza of the Aragon region of Spain, with the theme "Water and Sustainable Development" (courtesy: Expo Zaragoza 2008)
Expo Zaragoza 2008, the international expo
on water and sustainable development, is taking place in Spain from 14 June to
14 September.
"Space technology has provided very interesting solutions
to problems with both drinking and industrial water," says Jesús Marcos
from INASMET-Tecnalia, who will present ESA's Technology Transfer Programme
(TTP) at the workshop. As one of ESA's TTP technology brokers, INASMET-Tecnalia
facilitates the exchange of technologies between space and water management
sectors.
The Water Tower 'Torre del Agua' at the 'EXPO Zaragoza 2008'. The festival with its theme 'Water and Sustainable Development' places particular emphasis on water and future use of water resources, and takes place in Spain from 14 June to 14 September. (courtesy: Expo Zaragoza 2008)
Organised by Tecnalia Aerospace and ESA, the
workshop will be held at the World Trade Centre at Expo Zaragoza. The aim of
the workshop is to make participants from the 'water sector' aware that space
technology can provide feasible alternatives to solve their problems and
specifically address through examples some of the water sector's needs which
can be met with the help of space technologies.
"Space technology
transfers touch virtually every aspect of our every-day life", says Frank M.
Salzgeber, Head of the Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO) at the
European Space Agency, ESA.
Frank M. Salzgeber, Head of ESA’s Technology Transfer and Promotion Offices (courtesy: ESA)
"From intelligent textiles to car safety
features, from medical applications innovations to novel engineering solutions,
from gaming technology to high-tech environmental control systems - we are
surrounded by technology that once originated in the space business and is now
generating profits in businesses in multitude of market sectors."
"At
the EXPO in Zaragoza our Spanish technology transfer network partner will
present several very interested projects where advanced space technologies are
used to provide novel solutions to water problems in our society."
Among
the items for discussion will be how two space technologies: a biosensor to
spot contamination on the International Space Station (ISS) and ESA's
Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative project, (MELISSA), headed by
Christophe Lasseur, have led to spin-offs for use in water
treatment.
The workshop will address how space technologies can be used
in non-space water-related areas including the SMOS satellite's contribution to
studies of the water cycle and its effects on the environment and the way in
which Earth observation satellites help urban water management. This morning's
workshop is also an opportunity for technology donors and potential technology
receivers in the water sector to meet.
INASMET-Tecnalia, Technology Broker for Spain of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office, will hold the International Conference ‘Applications of space innovation for water management’ in the frame of the ‘EXPO Zaragoza 2008’. The aim of the event, which will take place 17 July in Zaragoza (Spain), is to foster the dialogue on possible applications of space technology in the water management sector. (courtesy: Expo Zaragoza 2008)
From space to tap water
The
Spanish start-up company Biofinder have developed an automated and fast early
microbiological warning system, a biosensor based upon technology to detect
micro-organisms onboard the ISS. This allows the detection of the most common
microbiological parameters in both the food and environment
industries.
Mikel Areso, CEO of Biofinder, a Spanish start-up company which has developed an automated and fast early microbiological warning system, a biosensor based upon technology to detect micro-organisms onboard the ISS. This allows the detection of the most common microbiological parameters in both the food and environment industries. (courtesy: ESA)
Initially the company focused on water
analysis, specifically for drinking water but in future it plans to further
develop the biosensor for use in food analysis and possibly air
analysis.
So far the company's sensor can be used to spot four types of
parameters: Escherichia coli, including a large group of coli bacteria;
Enterococcus faecalis also known as Group D Streptococcus; total coliform
bacteria found in human and animal intestinal wastes; and total aerobic count.
Biofinder is working on adding two more to this list: Listeria monocytogenes
bacteria and salmonella.
"Our product has been customised with a
user-friendly design, allowing a remote and in-situ water analysis that
provides quantitative results in less than 12 hours. Other systems on the
market require more time; 'rapid' methods take 20 hours to provide initial
results and conventional, more complete methods take from 48 to 72 hours,"
explains Mikel Areso, CEO of Biofinder S.L.
Biofinder is now finalising
the validation of the biosensor and working on developing systems to meet the
specific needs of clients, whether for drinking water or for waste-water
systems.
The European Space Agency's MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) is a multidisciplinary project which has been conceived as a micro-organisms and higher plants based ecosystem intended as a tool to gain understanding of the behaviour of artificial ecosystems, and for the development of the technology for a future regenerative life support system for long term manned space missions, e.g. a lunar base or a mission to Mars. The driving element of MELiSSA is the recovery of edible biomass from waste, carbon dioxide and minerals, using light as source of energy to promote biological photosynthesis. MELiSSA has five compartments colonised respectively by thermophilic anoxygenic bacteria, photoheterotrophic bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria and higher plants, and the crew. (courtesy: ESA)
From feeding astronauts to handling waste
water
Another interesting space project that has already led to
spin-offs in the handling of waste water is MELISSA, which was conceived as a
tool to understand the behaviour of artificial ecosystems and to develop
technologies for a future regenerative life-support system for long-term human
space missions, such as a lunar base or a mission to Mars.
Today food
and water for astronauts in space is brought from Earth, but this will not be
feasible for long missions to the moon and other planets. A mission to Mars,
for example, is expected to last for at least two years so it will be essential
to grow food in space.
The driving element of MELISSA is the recovery of
food, water and oxygen from waste (faeces, urea), carbon dioxide and minerals.
To achieve this, a recycling system consisting of five compartments colonised
by thermophilic anoxygenic bacteria, photohererotrophic bacteria, nitrifying
bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, and higher plants. The crew will be needed
to complete the cycle.
Based on the first compartment in ESA's MELISSA project, a black water recycling system is under construction for Concordia research base in Antarctica. The Concordia Station is a scientific base built in Antarctica by the French Polar Institute (IPEV) and the Italian Antarctic Programme (PNRA). (courtesy: IPEV)
Unwanted waste products and air pollutants
are processed using the natural function of plants, which in turn provide food
and contribute to water purification and oxygen for air revitalisation. Many
other important benefits are also being examined for related industrial
projects.
Several of the technologies and methods learned from MELISSA
are already used in the handling and processing of waste water to avoid
polluting the environment.
For example, a Belgian company has used the
MELISSA research to devise methods to remove as much as 85% of the solid waste
left over after waste-water treatment and to convert it into water and methane
gas, which can be used to generate electricity.
The International Exhibition of Zaragoza 2008 will take place from 14 June to 14 September 2008. (courtesy: Expo Zaragoza 2008)
"There is a huge potential in space
technology and what it can offer," says Marcos.
The INASMET-Tecnalia and
ESA workshop "Application of the Space Innovation for Water Management" will
take place 17 July 2008, starting 9:30, at the World Trade Centre at Expo
Zaragoza, WTCZ, María Zambrano 31, room Aragón 3 - 6. Advanced
registration is recommended as a limited number of seats are
available.
ESA's Technology Transfer Programme
ESA's
Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO) is set-up to facilitate the use of
space technology and space systems for non-space applications and to further
demonstrate the benefit of the European space programme to European citizens.
In addition TTPO operates three Business Incubation offices in Europe to
support start-up companies to spin-off space technologies and create new
companies and jobs in Europe.
(source: ESA)
