Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) Hardware Commonality for Exploration Vehicles

Abstract

In August 2011, the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) technical community, along with associated stakeholders, held a workshop to review NASA's plans for Exploration missions and vehicles with two objectives: revisit the Exploration Atmospheres Working Group (EAWG) findings from 2006, and discuss preliminary ECLSS architecture concepts and technology choices for Exploration vehicles, identifying areas for potential common hardware or technologies to be utilized. Key considerations for selection of vehicle design total pressure and percent oxygen include operational concepts for extravehicular activity (EVA) and prebreathe protocols, materials flammability, and controllability within pressure and oxygen ranges. New data for these areas since the 2006 study were presented and discussed, and the community reached consensus on conclusions and recommendations for target design pressures for each Exploration vehicle concept. For the commonality study, the workshop identified many areas of potential commonality across the Exploration vehicles as well as with heritage International Space Station (ISS) and Shuttle hardware. Of the 36 ECLSS functions reviewed, 16 were considered to have strong potential for commonality, 13 were considered to have some potential commonality, and 7 were considered to have limited potential for commonality due to unique requirements or lack of sufficient heritage hardware. These findings, which will be utilized in architecture studies and budget exercises going forward, are presented in detail. Nomenclature

Flexible Path Environmental Control and Life Support Technology - An Updated Look at Next Steps

“…This lack of a consensus delays the start of significant vehicle and systems development, demonstrating the need of the flexible path approach and the ability to support multiple destinations with a common architecture and technology base. For systems such as ECLSS that require long lead times for technology maturation, systems development must start in the very near future in order to deploy usable and reliable systems in the intermediate (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) year) future. Applying the flexible path philosophy will allow ECLSS development to commence absent a specific mission plan and destination goal.…”

Zwitterionic Copolymers for Anti-Scaling Applications in Simulated Spaceflight Wastewater Scenarios

“…Currently, the VCD produces a maximum of 70% recovery, necessitating the handling, storage, and disposal of leftover brine . The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) desires a minimum water recovery of 85% . Generally, in water treatment processes, and specifically for NASA and the ISS, divalent ions (e.g., Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) are of particular concern because of the potential for scaling.…”

“… 20 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) desires a minimum water recovery of 85%. 21 Generally, in water treatment processes, and specifically for NASA and the ISS, divalent ions (e.g., Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ) are of particular concern because of the potential for scaling. NASA is planning for long-term missions within the next decade with little or no possibility of resupply from earth (Artemis, Gateway, and potentially Mars); therefore, improved methods of purifying water with high recovery are mission critical.…”