National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) Integrated Roadmap Development

Abstract

At present, NASA has considered a number of future human space exploration mission concepts . Yet, detailed mission requirements and vehicle architectures remain mostly undefined, making technology investment strategies difficult to develop and sustain without a top-level roadmap to serve as a guide. This paper documents a roadmap for development of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) capabilities required to enhance the long-term operation of the International Space Station (ISS) as well as enable beyond-Low Earth Orbit (LEO) human exploration missions. Three generic mission types were defined to serve as a basis for developing a prioritized list of needed capabilities and technologies. Those are 1) a short duration micro gravity mission; 2) a long duration transit microgravity mission; and 3) a long duration surface exploration mission. To organize the effort, ECLSS was categorized into three major functional groups (atmosphere, water, and solid waste management) with each broken down into sub-functions. The ability of existing state-of-the-art (SOA) technologies to meet the functional needs of each of the three mission types was then assessed by NASA subject matter experts. When SOA capabilities were deemed to fall short of meeting the needs of one or more mission types, those "gaps" were prioritized in terms of whether or not the corresponding capabilities enable or enhance each of the mission types. The result was a list of enabling and enhancing capabilities needs that can be used to guide future ECLSS development, as well as a list of existing hardware that is "ready to go" for exploration-class missions. A strategy to fulfill those needs over time was then developed in the form of a roadmap. Through execution of this roadmap, the hardware and technologies intended to meet exploration needs will, in many cases, directly benefit the ISS operational capability, benefit the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), and guide long-term technology investments for longer duration missions The final product of this paper is an agreed-to ECLSS roadmap detailing ground and flight testing to support the three mission scenarios previously mentioned. This information will also be used to develop the integrated NASA budget submit in January 2012.

Systematic review of the technical and physiological constraints of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle that affect the capability of astronauts to exercise effectively during spaceflight

“…Richter et al, 2017;Scott, Weber, & Green, 2019). This is problematic because the term "exploration vehicle" can refer to a range of diverse spacecraft including the International Space Station (ISS) (Thompson et al, 2015), the multimission space exploration vehicle, and the lunar lander (Metcalf, Peterson, Carrasquillo, & Bagdigian, 2012).…”

An Assessment of Environmental Health Needs

“…The technology gaps or needs were further characterized in the same manner as ECLS gaps, as enhancing or enabling. 9 Enhancing needs are desired for the mission but the current state of the art (SOA) would suffice or could suffice with updates. Enabling needs are required for mission and either significant updates to SOA or new technology would be needed for the mission to occur.…”

“…Pertinent characteristics of the general DRMs are listed in Table 1. These general DRMs were also used in the assessment of ECLS systems 9 , extravehicular activity (EVAs) 10 , and other functional aspects of manned spaceflight. The technology gaps or needs were further characterized in the same manner as ECLS gaps, as enhancing or enabling.…”

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

“…= Carbon Monoxide CO 2 = Carbon Dioxide Psia = pounds per square inch absolute HCl = Hydrogen Chloride HCN = Hydrogen Cyanide kPa = kilopascals ppO 2 = partial pressure of oxygen O 2 = oxygen…”