Collins Aerospace has successfully demonstrated its next-generation life support systems for deep space habitation as part of a ceremonial event with NASA at its laboratory in Windsor Locks, Conn.
The demonstration completes the company’s multi-year program supporting NASA’s public-private partnership enabled by the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2) Broad Agency Announcement, Appendix A.
Air Revitalisation System
Collins’ solution is a modular Air Revitalisation System, which is part of the company’s Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS). The new system was designed so its controls for temperature, CO2 removal, trace contaminants, and humidity fit into a smaller pallet-based system that requires less space while providing easier access to key components.
The ethernet-based system is wireless so it can link to various computers or tablets. Additionally, its interchangeable rack-based design enables customisation to fit a variety of mission requirements.
Accessibility
Our newly designed pallets are about half the size of the equipment racks currently found on the ISS"
“Our newly designed pallets, which look like large lockers, are about half the size of the equipment racks currently found on the International Space Station (ISS),” said Peggy Guirgis, general manager, Space Systems, ISR and Space for Collins Aerospace.
“Our life support systems are arranged in these pallets in a way that makes sensors and other important components more accessible by crew members. As missions to deep space get longer, astronauts will need to service and maintain their own equipment and we’re making sure they can do so as easily as possible.”
Human space exploration
The new pallets will be delivered to the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., where they will be used in NASA’s Integrated ECLSS Ground Testing. Enabling human space exploration has been a core focus of Collins Aerospace since the inception of the nation’s spaceflight program dating back to the Apollo era.
As an industry pioneer in ECLSS for ISS and deep space, Collins has developed and manufactured several key life support system technologies for NASA and industry, including the water recovery system currently in use on the International Space Station.