Past, present and future life support systems and technologies comparison
- Paper number
IAC-05-A1.P.03
- Author
Mr. Xavier Andreu Vidal, European Space Agency/Student Participation Programme, Spain
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The purpose of my research is to understand and explain how it works any space Life Support System (LSS), all its subsystems, the interrelation between subsystems, the technology available for some processes and the comparison of different systems already on orbit and future systems based in new technologies (advanced life support system, ALSS, last developments from NASA Specialized Centre of Research and Training in advanced and biogenerative life support, NSCORT, group at Purdue, Howard and Alabama universities). The work is based on the case-study of seven different LSS systems using current International Space Station (ISS) technologies and future missions using ALS technologies. This systems are related to phase/post-phase 2 and 3 of Russian and USA segments for the ISS, and future scenarios for a Moon and Mars surface habitat Lander and a permanent Moon base. A comparison of them has been done using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study that includes an inventory analysis and an impact analysis. The LCA study will allow to see life support system past, present and future evolution, better understand the interactions and consumables flow between each subsystem, compare between different options, and give few guidelines for the most adequate life support system to minimize environmental impact. At first, a general LSS explanation is given for the different subsystems (Air, water, waste, biomass or crop production, food and thermal), the possible processes for each one (physical, chemical and biogenerative) and some of the available technologies: like the 4 bed molecular sieve, CO2 removal system (Sabatier reactor), O2 generation subsystem by solid polymer water electrolysis, trace contaminant control subassembly… for the gaseous waste management; vapor compression distillation, ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis, biological water processor, multi-filtration/Volatile Removal assembly… for the liquid waste management. Once we know that, the seven LSS of the case-study are explained and the different processes, its interrelations and technologies are identified for each one. Then, I determine the inputs and outputs per crewmember and day for a general system. After evaluating each case-study’s energy and consumables utilization, I have drawn an energy and material’s (O2, CO2, H2, clean water, grey water, solid wastes…) flow diagram to better realize where and how much the energy and consumables are used. With these flow graphs it is easy to determine all wastes and all new consumables added to each system per crewmember and day, the among that is recycled and better realize the processes where more energy or resources are consumed. If we know this, we can easily compare different life support systems, and decide which is the best consumable’s supply option: Earth importation or in-situ resources utilization (ISRU). This will allow to determine possible environmental impacts of each case-study (it really will depends on the environment we are) and give few guideline in order to minimize the impact and cost. Such work is an integration between environmental engineering, space technologies, industrial processes analysis and management knowledge.
- Abstract document