# 18: Brine Solids Building Up in Strange Places

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-09-11
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep18-mp3

## Summary

Amy Button, a NASA contractor and mechanical engineer, discusses her application to the Mars One one-way mission while detailing her work on next-generation life support systems for Orion and the ISS. She explains the technical challenges of air scrubbers using amine-coated beads, the behavior of brine solids in microgravity, and the thermal management issues inherent in space environments. Button also reflects on her experience training astronauts, the rigorous selection process for Mars One, and the psychological demands of long-duration space travel.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=6) Introduction: Amy Button and Mars One
- [1:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=84) Mars One Mission Structure and Reality TV Funding
- [3:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=215) NASA Life Support Work: Air Scrubbers and Brine Solids
- [7:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=442) Orion vs. ISS Life Support Technologies
- [10:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=653) Astronaut Training and Mission Simulation
- [14:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=869) Mars One Application Process and Selection
- [16:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=992) Psychological Factors and One-Way Mission Mindset
- [28:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=1697) Desired Gadgets and Thermal Management in Space
- [39:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places#t=2348) Training Approaches and Public Engagement

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mars One (company)
- NASA (company)
- Johnson Space Center (company)
- Orion (product)
- United Technology Aerospace (company)
- Paragon (company)
- iPad (product)
- Kindle (product)
- Atmel (company)
- StarCity (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Solange Massa (CEO/Founder, Ecoatoms)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-01-07-solange-massa-ceo-founder-ecoatoms) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [S1E58 NASA, Systems Engineering, and Sending Robots to Space | David Oh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-12-23-s1e58-nasa-systems-engineering-and-sending-robots-to-space-david-oh) (Being an Engineer)
- [Episode Two - Space Robotics: out of this world](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2020-10-30-episode-two-space-robotics-out-of-this-world) (Robot Talk)
- [Ep. 31 | NASA Astronauts Victor Glover and Michael Hopkins Talk Engineering at 17,000 mph](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-09-24-ep-31-nasa-astronauts-victor-glover-and-michael-hopkins-talk-engineering-at-17-0) (Moore's Lobby)
- [AM Rocket Engines and Space Nuclear Power with Omar Mireles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2026-06-23-am-rocket-engines-and-space-nuclear-power-with-omar-mireles) (Additive Snack)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-11-18-brine-solids-building-up-in-strange-places. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.