Water is as critical for survival in outer space as it is on Earth. On the International Space Station (ISS), a significant portion of the cost of sustaining human life is tied to producing safe drinking water. Recycling wastewater not only reduces the need for resupply, but also enables long-duration space missions to become more Earth-independent and self-reliant.
Through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Pancopia, a Hampton, Virginia-based environmental technology company, developed a new biological water recycling system capable of removing high levels of organic carbon and nitrogen — the two primary pollutants in wastewater.
Biological Innovation for Closed-Loop Water Recycling
Pancopia’s system makes engineered use of a newly discovered group of bacteria known as anammox, combined with nitrifiers and denitrifiers traditionally used in wastewater treatment. Together, these organisms form a stable, self-regulating biological system that purifies wastewater efficiently and reliably.
By incorporating anammox bacteria, the system improves treatment stability while reducing energy and consumable requirements compared to conventional water treatment technologies. This biologically based approach allows wastewater to be purified more quickly and with fewer operational inputs.
Designed for Space — Applicable on Earth
On the ISS, an astronaut requires approximately one gallon of water per day. The cost to transport water into space has driven NASA to invest in advanced recycling systems that reduce dependence on resupply missions. While current ISS systems recycle water, they rely on complex, energy-intensive components and expendable materials.
Pancopia’s high-performance water recycling system was designed to support future human space exploration missions where reliability, simplicity, and closed-loop operation are essential.
From Space Exploration to Real-World Deployment
Although originally developed for space exploration, Pancopia adapted this technology for terrestrial applications, including municipal and agricultural wastewater treatment. The company has worked closely with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD), which identified Pancopia’s technology as a candidate for nitrogen removal at one of its large treatment plants. Pilot testing and early commercial deployment followed.
Program Snapshot
“Without NASA sponsorship of our technology via the SBIR program, Pancopia would not have been able to transform this innovative technology from the laboratory to commercial implementation,” said Bill Cumbie, Founder and CEO of Pancopia.
About Pancopia
Pancopia, Inc. is an environmental technology company headquartered in Hampton, Virginia. The company accelerates natural processes to recover water and nutrients in animal agriculture, helping farms reduce ammonia emissions, improve water reuse, and lower operating costs. Pancopia partners with NASA, USDA, and leading universities including Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech, Bucknell, Texas Tech, and Purdue. For more information, visit www.pancopia.com.
Media Contact:
William Cumbie
Pancopia, Inc.
bill@pancopia.com
Hampton, Virginia
