Engineering and Operational Validation of a Closed-Loop ECLSS Test Platform for the Mars Gravity Biosatellite

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Fulford-Jones, Thaddeus R. F., author.

Conference Name:

International Conference On Environmental Systems (2008-06-29 : San Francisco, California, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 2008

Summary:

We present details of the design, implementation, test and operation with live mice of a closed-loop integrated ECLSS ground test apparatus for the Mars Gravity Biosatellite. The sealed system includes accommodations for two flight-design habitat modules, which can be deployed in either a rotational or a non-rotational configuration. Installed within the apparatus are scaled-down versions of a subset of flight-equivalent atmospheric reconditioning subassemblies together with sensors, actuators and a computer to perform autonomous feedback-driven supervisory control.We present data that validates an integrated closed-loop system which includes oxygen replenishment, carbon dioxide scrubbing via reaction with lithium hydroxide, ammonia removal using acid-treated activated charcoal, and humidity control with a custom-designed condensing heat exchanger. An atmospheric monitoring suite incorporates commercially available off-the-shelf low-mass, low-power sensors to perform continuous environmental monitoring. The entire system is enclosed within a zero pressure gradient barrier membrane with sealed ports for power, data and contingency air sampling. Results of a 25-day experiment represent a proof-of-concept for certain key elements of the Mars Gravity Biosatellite's ECLSS strategy. Not all elements were investigated notably, control of total pressure and temperature were outside the scope of this study. In addition, no attempt was made to model the expected on-orbit atmospheric leakage

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

2008-01-2138

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license