Towards a greener cosmos: Tool for integrating life cycle costs and sustainability for future space systems development

Abstract. As humanity ventures further into space exploration, the imperative for sustainability and cost-effectiveness intensifies. Accurate cost estimation is pivotal for project viability, funding, and stakeholder management. However, existing tools often fall short in integrating comprehensive data and sustainability considerations. This paper proposes the Sustainable Exploration Resource Toolkit (SERT), which integrates life cycle costs (LCC) analysis, sustainability principles, and technology evaluation to address these challenges. SERT aims to provide decision-makers with holistic insights into the financial implications of space missions, identifying cost-effective solutions for sustainable bioregenerative systems. By fostering cross-industry collaboration and complexity reduction strategies, SERT strives to revolutionize cost estimation for future space exploration endeavors, ensuring economic viability and environmental responsibility.