Ideas for Using ISS for Technology Demonstration to Support Exploration

Abstract

The International Space Station (ISS) is a platform where science and technology demonstrations can be conducted in the unique environment of Space. New technology can be tested in this space flight environment and move closer to operational deployment. When considering the use of new technologies, their movement through the many development levels before flight certification needs to be considered. How much better does a new system component or subsystem need to be before it is accepted for use in flight operations? Will it perform in critical operations when exposed to extreme conditions? Will it deliver the desired performance and exceed the capability of existing systems? Will the system work in the microgravity environment of space flight? Will it work in a continuous state of free fall within a closed biological island? These questions need to be addressed as new life support systems are being brought into operational use on NASA's missions to Space. John Mankins prepared a whitepaper in 1995 on "Technology Readiness Levels" which defines each stage of development from basic principles to proven fight systems. One of the levels defined by this paper is the testing of technology within the same environment it will need to operate in during its useful life. We now have an ideal opportunity using the capability of ISS to perform the key testing necessary to prove new technology performance and move it closer to flight certification and incorporation into the next generation of flight systems.Technology Readiness Levels Summary TRL 1 Basic principles observed and reported TRL 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated TRL 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of -concept TRL 4 Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment TRL 5 Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment TRL 6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment (ground or space) TRL 7 System prototype demonstration in a space environment TRL 8 Actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration (ground or space) TRL 9 Actual system "flight proven" through successful mission operations Long duration space flight will require several technology elements which can be effectively tested on ISS. How humans and their support systems perform within tightly closed systems over a long period of time is critical for Space exploration. Will new technologies deliver the expected performance over a long period of time in a microgravity environment? To answer this question, the test systems and processes used to perform science investigations on ISS could be used by the technology community.