Spaceflight Life Support and Biospherics

Eckart, Peter

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-3038-9

Cited by 179 publications

(105 citation statements)

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“…This fact will become even more important as crew sizes increase, thereby the cultivation area and crop diversity. Eckart (1996) reported a combined duration value for the plant related operations within a future GHM to be 0.1031 h/ m²d or 6.19 min/m²d. The values were adapted from BIOS-3 data sets and comprise planting, harvesting, observation, and preventive maintenance work steps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse production analysis of early mission scenarios for Moon and Mars habitats

Schubert

2017

Open Agriculture

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The In-Phase Cultivation approach where all trays start at the same time, and the Shifted Cultivation approach, where trays start in a specific sequential manner. Depending on the approach, different biomass output patterns emerged and were analysed with respect to crew consumption, crop shelf-life, and the risk of food spoilage. Crew time estimates were performed with respect to the overall production process, which resulted into 208.9 min per day for the planned cultivation area. When applying normal terrestrial worktimes, this equates to approximately 50% of a crew member day for system operation. Biomass and crew time results were analysed in relation to each other, creating specific productivity factors for each crop type. This way, future mission planning, crop selection, and greenhouse design studies can better tailor the implementation challenges of small greenhouse modules into the habitat infrastructure.Keywords: food production, greenhouse modules, bioregenerative life support systems, production lifecycle analysis, crew time estimates, crop shelf life, habitat demand function, biomass over-and under production IntroductionWith early Mars human exploration missions expected to last 500 to 600 days (Hoffmann and Kaplan 1997), the initial build-up phase of a planetary habitat infrastructure would be initiated with consideration for follow-up missions that have the goal to improve the outpost with additional habitat elements enabling longer mission durations. Even in early habitat development missions, a small Greenhouse Module (GHM) is anticipated. Such a module would provide enough edible biomass to support a supplement food strategy for the crew. Examples for these kinds of early habitat infrastructures are the Lava:Hive concept for an early Mars habitat (LavaHive 2015) and the SinterHab concept for an early Moon habitat (SinterHab 2013).Testing a dedicated greenhouse module for these habitat scenarios is required in order to fine tune expected Abstract: The establishment of planetary outposts and habitats on the Moon and Mars will help foster further exploration of the solar system. The crews that operate, live, and work in these artificial constructions will rely on bio-regenerative closed-loop systems and principles, such as algae reactors and higher plant chambers, in order to minimize resupply needs and improve system resiliency. Greenhouse modules will play a major role in closing not only the oxygen, carbon-dioxide, and water supply loops, but also by providing fresh food for the crew. In early mission scenarios, when the habitat is still in its build-up phase, only small greenhouse systems will be deployed, providing a supplemental food strategy. Small quantities of high water content crops (e.g. lettuce, cucumber, tomato) will be cultivated, improving the crew's diet plan with an add-on option to the pre-packed meals. The research results of a 400-day biomass and crew time simulation of an adapted EDEN ISS Future Exploration Greenhouse are presented. This greenhouse is an experimental cultiva...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse production analysis of early mission scenarios for Moon and Mars habitats

Schubert

2017

Open Agriculture

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“…The primary radiation sources are galactic cosmic rays (energetic particles from outside our solar system), particles trapped in the earth's magnetic field (the Van Allen Belts) and solar energetic particle events (solar flares). 5,6 High-energy protons and heavy ions emanate from the Sun and elsewhere in the cosmos. Even higher energy secondary particles (protons, neutrons and heavy ions) are produced when the incoming radiation strikes the spacecraft hull.…”

Section: Ionizing Radiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The space-flight environment: the International Space Station and beyond

Thirsk¹,

Kuipers²,

Mukai³

et al. 2009

Canadian Medical Association Journal

159

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H uman space exploration is dependent on robust spacecraft design and sophisticated life-support technologies, both of which are critical for working in the hostile space environment. This article focuses on the specific challenges of the space environment. In an upcoming issue, a Dispatch from Space provides a personal look at space travel, and 2 other articles address the acclimation necessary for people to travel and live in space and the technological advances that can be applied to health care on earth.The early space program progressed from suborbital missions lasting minutes to orbital flights lasting days, demonstrating that people can both survive and work in space. Almost 50 years have elapsed since those initial flights, with remarkable progress in extending the duration of missions and the complexity of the objectives. The International Space Station circles the earth at an altitude of more than 300 km in an environment characterized by high vacuum, microgravity, extremes of temperature, meteoroids, space debris, ionospheric plasma, and ultraviolet and ionizing radiation. The development of new technologies to send people farther in space and keep them there longer is critical to the future of human space exploration.There are different definitions for the boundary to space. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses flight above 80 km to designate individuals as astronauts, while the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale uses the 100 km Karman line as the internationally accepted boundary to space. Beyond this altitude, aerodynamic flight is not possible, and spacecraft must travel faster than orbital velocity to manoeuvre and remain in orbit. EvidenceOnly about 350 people have flown in space over the last 4 decades, making it difficult to develop higher levels of clinical evidence to assess the efficacy of interventions in space medicine. Case series and descriptive studies represent the majority of the published literature in the field.1 A review of technical and special publications from NASA and peerreviewed literature was undertaken to complement our experiences. Each of us has experienced space first-hand, and, as a group, we have logged 2000 hours in space. One of the authors (D.W.) holds the Canadian record for spacewalking, with over 17 hours spent working outside of the space station. Environmental characteristicsResearch programs into bioastronautics and longitudinal studies of astronaut health have amassed considerable data that can help us to understand the environmental character- Robert Key points• Because of the harsh environment in space, astronauts are at risk for both short-and long-term health risks.• The 2 major challenges associated with spaceflight are radiation effects and the physiologic consequences of a microgravity environment.• Many of the immediate risks (decompression, thermal injury, arcing injuries) are mitigated by the design of the spacecraft and spacesuits.• The biologic effects of long-term exposure to space radiation are unclear but may include ...

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“…The entire suit had a mass of 88.4 kg. 9 Studies are currently investigating the anticipated water usage for suit cooling for future lunar EVA operations. 6,7 These studies show that the location of the mission, as well as the time of day that EVA is conducted, will exert a strong effect on total water utilization.…”

Section: B Water Use For Extravehicular Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Water Recovery from Wastes on the Lunar Surface Mission Water Balance

Fisher

Hogan

Wignarajah

et al. 2010

40th International Conference on Environmental Systems

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Abstract:Future extended lunar surface missions will require extensive recovery of resources to reduce mission costs and enable self-sufficiency. Water is of particular importance due to its potential use for human consumption and hygiene, general cleaning, clothes washing, radiation shielding, cooling for extravehicular activity suits, and oxygen and hydrogen production. Various water sources are inherently present or are generated in lunar surface missions, and subject to recovery. They include: initial water stores, water contained in food, human and other solid wastes, wastewaters and associated brines, ISRU water, and scavenging from residual propellant in landers. Future extended lunar surface missions will require extensive recovery of resources to reduce mission costs and enable self-sufficiency. Water is of particular importance due to its potential use for human consumption and hygiene, general cleaning, clothes washing, radiation shielding, cooling for extravehicular activity suits, and oxygen and hydrogen production. Various water sources are inherently present or are generated in lunar surface missions, and subject to recovery. They include: initial water stores, water contained in food, human and other solid wastes, wastewaters and associated brines, ISRU water, and scavenging from residual propellant in landers. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the contribution of water recovery from life support wastes on the overall water balance for lunar surface missions. Water in human wastes, metabolic activity and survival needs are well characterized and dependable data are available. A detailed life support waste model was developed that summarizes the composition of life support wastes and their water content. Waste processing technologies were reviewed for their potential to recover that water. The recoverable water in waste is a significant contribution to the overall water balance. The value of this contribution is discussed in the context of the other major sources and losses of water. Combined with other analyses these results provide guidance for research and technology development and down-selection.

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Spaceflight Life Support and Biospherics

Cited by 179 publications

References 0 publications

Greenhouse production analysis of early mission scenarios for Moon and Mars habitats

Greenhouse production analysis of early mission scenarios for Moon and Mars habitats

The space-flight environment: the International Space Station and beyond

Impact of Water Recovery from Wastes on the Lunar Surface Mission Water Balance

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