Biosystems Engineering student interns at the Kennedy Space Center

Claire Pedersen is currently working as an intern for research and development at the Kennedy Space Center. One of the systems she is working with is called the Orbital Syngas/ Commodity Augmentation Reactor (OSCAR). This system is used for a project called Trash to Gas Technologies. Trash seems like such a small feat that shouldn’t take much of your time to dispose of. However, in space, it is a different story. Due to not having great ways to discard trash in space Claire has taken the steps to work on a project that could not only be beneficial for Earth but for future missions, as we keep exploring the unknown.

Claire explains that OSCAR allows you to dispose of or even reuse garbage in space by combusting the trash found on spaceships and then collecting the gases. Some of the gas can be vented to create more space and to take a load off the ship. The less weight on the ship will allow it to become more fuel-efficient. While other gases such as methane and oxygen can be used for many other things like fuel. Clair mentions that this is a huge benefit because as we explore space we venture out further and further away from Earth, it will become more difficult to send resupply missions. Thus, the OSCAR system can be a useful tool as space exploration expands.