Adsorption processes in spacecraft environmental control and life support systems

Area of Science:

• Spacecraft Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)
• Adsorption Technology
• Space Exploration

Background:

• Long-duration space missions necessitate highly efficient, closed-loop life support systems for air and water recycling.
• Open-loop systems are insufficient for the economic and resource demands of extended spaceflight.
• Adsorption processes offer key advantages for space-based separations and purifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of adsorption processes in achieving near-complete recycling for spacecraft environmental control and life support.
• To discuss the application, requirements, science, and hardware of adsorption technology for International Space Station (ISS) life support.
• To explore the future potential of adsorption in planetary habitats for environmental control.

Main Methods:

• Review of adsorption process applications in spacecraft life support.
• Discussion of specific adsorption-based systems for contaminant removal and water purification.
• Analysis of the advantages of adsorption (gravity independence, reliability, efficiency) for space applications.

Main Results:

• Adsorption technology is essential for removing trace contaminants and carbon dioxide from cabin air.
• Adsorption is key to recovering and purifying potable water from waste streams.
• Adsorption systems are implemented on the International Space Station for critical life support functions.

Conclusions:

• Adsorption processes are a mature, reliable, and efficient technology for environmental control and life support in space.
• Adsorption will continue to be a fundamental technology for current and future space missions, including planetary habitats.
• The unique properties of adsorption make it ideal for gravity-independent, regenerative life support systems.