Atmosphere Revitalization Technology Development for Crewed Space Exploration

Abstract

As space exploration objectives extend human presence beyond low Earth orbit, the solutions to technological challenges presented by supporting human life in the hostile space environment must build upon experience gained during past and present crewed space exploration programs. These programs and the cabin atmosphere revitalization process technologies and systems developed for them represent the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) past and present operational knowledge base for maintaining a safe, comfortable environment for the crew. The contributions of these programs to the NASA's technological and operational working knowledge base as well as key strengths and weaknesses to be overcome are discussed. Areas for technological development to address challenges inherent with the Vision for Space Exploration (VSE) are presented and a plan for their development employing unit operations principles is summarized.

Study of adsorption dynamics for 5A molecular sieve material in manned spacecraft

“…CO 2 removal technology research has always been focused on ECLSS of manned spacecraft, it has formed a comparatively accelerated CO 2 removal system after 40 years of development [2] . In the short-term mission spacecraft, it usually use LiOH to removal CO 2 , such as America's Mercury, Gemini, Apollo spacecraft [3] , Russian Soyuz spacecraft, China's Shenzhou spacecraft system. As for the long-duration space flight, as the Mir [4] , the Sky Lab, and the International Space Station (ISS), the regenerative adsorption system adopt 5A molecular sieve 13X Zeolite as the main CO 2 removal material.…”

Trade Spaces in Crewed Spacecraft Atmosphere Revitalization System Development

“…The Principle AR subsystem functions include particulate matter removal and disposal; process gas drying and water return to the cabin environment; trace contaminant removal and disposal; carbon dioxide removal and handling; atmospheric gas generation, storage, distribution, and conditioning; and resource recovery for loop closure. 19 A key feature underlying the block flow diagram presented by Fig. 1 is a core set of AR subsystem unit operations that can be readily configured to operate in either an open loop or closed loop manner.…”