Harding and NASA Research
Harding University is a private, four-year, liberal arts university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Beginning in the 1960s, when Harding conducted NASA grant-funded research related to astronaut physical fitness of benefit to the first moon launch, to Harding’s membership in the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium and scientific and technology research that continues today, the University maintains strong ties to America’s space program.
Featured project: Water Purification Solutions
The Facts
Human presence in space requires a self-contained biosphere in which astronauts can work and live. For extended missions, these closed systems must be able to clean and disinfect the air and water so that it can be reused.
The Issues
One concern for the designers of this system is the containment of biofilms, which have been found to build up on system components and valves. Another issue is that the current water recovery system for the International Space Station has not shown to be effective against removing some compounds — specifically dimethylsilanediol — found in the shampoos and cosmetics used by those on board.
The Research
Photocatalysis is a low power, low mass solution that can disinfect the air and water from both living organisms (bacteria) and other organic pollutants without introducing potentially dangerous chemicals. Our research focuses on enhancing the current system of wastewater treatment in space with a reactive oxygen species generator that will break down complex molecules and kill microbes using a combination of UV light and titanium dioxide (which serves as a catalyst).
Arkansas Space Grant Consortium
The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium includes 17 four‐year universities and colleges throughout Arkansas. Its primary goal is to educate and familiarize faculty, undergraduate and graduate students with aerospace fundamentals, NASA’s broad research programs and with other opportunities to enter aerospace and related industries. Following in NASA’s footsteps, ASGC members conduct programs to familiarize and motivate students with the STEM-related courses needed to enter aerospace activities at colleges and universities and to prepare them to enter white‐collar and blue‐collar professions in high‐tech industries.
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