Space habitat contaminant growth models

This paper outlines the need for and role of Contaminant Growth Models (CGM) in designing space habitats and space mission operations. The tremendous complexity of the contamination problem and the current lack of data suggests that a "layered" approach to CGM development and utilization be made in conjunction with medical/toxicological research and risk assessments. Two space habitat contaminant examples: thermodegradation and hydrazine, are utilized to show how such a model might be useful in analyzing the environment of a space habitat. The examples also depict how NASA's interdisciplinary Center for Space Environmental Health (CSEH) will combine medical/toxicological research results with engineering environmental system design tools to set standards and help in the design, prediction, monitoring and safe control of space habitats. Since the CSEH project is just beginning, the contents of the paper are descriptive of the goal and the approach being taken, rather than conclusive in nature.