LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM

In human spaceflight, the 'life support system' is a group of devices that allow a human being to survive in outer space. NASA often uses the phrase 'Environmental Control and Life Support System' or the acronym 'ECLSS' when describing these systems for its human spaceflight missions.^[1] The life support system may supply: air, water and food. It must also maintain the correct body temperature, an acceptable pressure on the body and deal with the body's waste products. Shielding against harmful external influences such as radiation and micro-meteorites may also be necessary. Components of the life support system are life-critical, and are designed and constructed using safety engineering techniques.

Life support functions

Human physiological needs

Atmosphere

Temperature control

Water

Food

Waste

Space vehicle systems

Gemini, Mercury, & Apollo

Space Shuttle

For the Space Shuttle, NASA includes in the ECLSS category systems that provide both life support for the crew and environmental control for payloads. The ''Shuttle Reference Manual'' contains ECLSS sections on: Crew Compartment Cabin Pressurization, Cabin Air Revitalization, Water Coolant Loop System, Active Thermal Control System, Supply and Waste Water, Waste Collection System, Waste Water Tank, Airlock Support, Extravehicular Mobility Units, Crew Altitude Protection System, and Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator Cooling and Gaseous Nitrogen Purge for Payloads.^[2]

Crew Exploration Vehicle

Soyuz

The life support system on the Soyuz spacecraft is called the Kompleks Sredstv Obespecheniya Zhiznideyatelnosti (KSOZh).

Space station systems

Spacelab

Mir

International Space Station

In May of 1996, NASA published Technical Memorandum 108508, the ''International Space Station ECLSS Technical Task Agreement Summary Report''.^[3] It covers work done to develop and test both water recovery and air revitalization systems for the ISS.

Water recovery systems

Air revitalization systems

; Oxygen Generating Systems
The Oxygen Generating System (OGS) currently used aboard the ISS (International Space Station) is the Elektron, located in ''Zvezda''. ''Destiny'' also contains an OGS which is not yet in use. Initial use of the ''Destiny'' OGS is planned for late Summer, 2007. During one of the spacewalks conducted by STS-117 astronauts, a hydrogen vent valve required to begin using the system was installed. Additionally, the ISS crew has sometimes used backup sources of bottled oxygen and Solid Fuel Oxygen Generation canisters.
The OGS aboard ''Destiny'' will electrolyze water the from the Water Recovery System to produce oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen will be delivered to the cabin atmosphere and the hydrogen will be vented overboard.^[4]

EVA Systems

Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) systems primarily consist of the traditional space suit, but can also include self-contained individual spacecraft.

Space suits

Both space suit designs currently in use, the U.S. EMU and the Russian Orlan, include life support systems allowing the user to work independently without an umbilical connection from a spacecraft. A space suit must have life support, either through an umbilical connection cord or independently, as spacesuits are supposed to protect people from the vacuum of outer space.

References

1.
Breathing Easy on the Space Station
2.
HSF - The Shuttle: Environmental Control and Life Support System
3.
International Space Station ECLSS Technical Task Agreement Summary Report
4.
International Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support System

External links

★ Environmental Control and Life Support System (NASA-KSC)

★ Aerospace Biomedical and Life Support Engineering (MIT OpenCourseWare page - Spring 2006)

★ Space Advanced Life Support (Purdue course page - Spring 2004)

★ Advanced Life support for missions to Mars

★ Mars Advanced Life Support

★ Mars Life Support Systems

★ Publications on Mars Life Support Systems

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