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Based on experience obtained in operation of the water and oxygen recovery systems installed onboard the Russian space stations Salut, Mir and the International Space Station ISS, data on the water and oxygen balance for a space station are presented as well as operational parameters and performance data of the systems. Using the data obtained design analysis of an integrated life support system for water and oxygen recovery based on physical/chemical means to be installed on a promising space station is carried out. Mandatory verification tests of new process (technologies) and recovery systems are to be conducted on ISS.

Interplanetary manned missions will change significantly the requirements imposed upon Life Support Systems (LSS) and specifically the requirements on LSS Automated Control Systems (ACS). During interplanetary manned missions the possibilities to control the operation of a specific system from the Ground Mission Control Center (GMCC) are diminished considerably. Therefore, this demands survivability and intelligent level enhancement LSS ACS.

This paper reviews the preliminary definition of integrated life support system configurations based on a single criterion decision-making task (SCDMT). Comparative analysis results are shown for currently used effectiveness models based on SCDMT. Possible areas of application for those models are determined. It is also proven that well-known effectiveness model, which uses an equivalent mass approach to determine system expenditures, can be used only in cases where useful effect from system operation is the same. The article proposes the use of a global thermodynamic effectiveness criterion based on the exergy method to account for ECLSS functional expenditures, i.e. functional costs. Exergy is a concept that fuses energy and material quality information in a measure that is both descriptive and physically significant. This method accounts for nonequivalence of different forms of energy and allows measuring technological flows in the system using same measuring units.

The paper deals with the construction and performance data of the service module Zvezda water and oxygen supply systems of the International Space Station (ISS). The performance data at the first 14 months of manned station functioning are provided. The data of humidity condensate and recovered water compositions are reviewed. The water supply and demand balance are analyzed. The system of oxygen generation “Electron-VM” and its functioning results are reviewed. The effective cooperation of the international partners on part of life support is shown.

As space flights tend to be more prolonged problems of oxygen generation by physicochemical means assume greater importance. The paper deals with the water, electrolysis process, CO2 concentration and processing organisation schemes. Some operational results of the system for electrolysis of aqueous alkali solution and CO2 removal on Mir space station are presented. Expected characteristics of the complex system for oxygen generation from carbon dioxide are considered.

The paper deals with the problems of development of physico-chemical systems for water recovery and atmosphere revitalization for long-duration space stations. Schematics of regenerative life support systems featuring a high degree of closure and biotechnological components are presented. A year-long experiment has proved the possibility for Man to stay in a closed artificial environment for a long time by consuming substances regenerated by physico-chemical means from the end products of life. A complex of the life support systems (LSS) on Mir space station allowing for oxygen and 90% water recovery as well as its future updating is considered.

As space flights tend to be more prolonged problems of oxygen generation by physico-chemical means assume greater importance. The paper deals with the water electrolysis process and CO2 reduction. Some operational results of the system for water electrolysis on Mir space station are presented. Expected characteristics of the systems for water electrolysis and carbon dioxide reduction are considered.

Development of closed life support systems for water recovery, oxygen generation and food processing is achievable in the future. However, currently the possibility of partial reproduction of food components from metabolic products and biocomplex waste should be taken into account when advanced life support system development is under consideration. Studies on carbohydrate synthesis from products of life are of particular interest because carbohydrates hold the first place in terms of mass in the food. The paper discusses possible ways of carbohydrate synthesis by physical/chemical means. Separate stages of a carbohydrate synthesis process are considered.

The Electron-VM Oxygen Generation System (OGS) is a main source of oxygen for crew breathing on the International Space Station (ISS) and the result of updating the Electron-V OGS that has been in successful operation for 17 years on Mir Space Station. The successful accomplishment of a manned flight program primarily has resulted in the stable operation of the system. The paper deals with analysis of off-normal situations related to the operation of the Electron-VM on board ISS. The system switching-off analysis based on the telemetry information processing and the results of the additional tests conducted under flight and ground conditions is performed. A principal cause of system switching-offs is a reduction in the pressure built by the circulating pumps due to ingress of gas bubbles into the suction pipeline. The results of the Electron-VM OGS switching-off analysis and the practical recommendations regarding its prevention are reviewed.

This paper deals with the development of the Trace Contaminant Dynamics Simulation Model (TCDSM) intended for the design concept of Trace Contaminants Removal System (TCRS) in development of a Space Vehicle Manned Pressurized Module (PM). The formalized description of the TCDSM includes the nonlinear equations of mass balance for the specific contaminants and the formalized descriptions of the contaminants sources and sinks. The crew and the PM non-metallic structural materials are main sources of contaminants. The air environments of the docking resupply (RSV) and crew-carrying space vehicles (CCSV) are the additional sources and sinks of the contaminants. The formalized description of the TCRS as the main sink of the contaminants takes into account the specific contaminants removal features based on the distribution factors defining its adsorptive capacity.

The Regenerative Atmosphere Revitalization and Monitoring system (ARMS), been part of Integrated Life Support System (ILSS), is intended for maintenance in the manned modules of a necessary chemical composition of an artificial gas atmosphere (AGA) on base of the crew metabolism product transform to environment initial components. Generally, the ARMS structure includes the individual systems and units intended for: → oxygen generation; → carbon dioxide removal and it concentration; → trace contaminants removal; → carbon dioxide reduction with the goal to produce an additional quantity of water necessary to increase the degree of the oxygen loop clousure. The ARMS structure of the International Space Station (ISS) Russian Segment (RS) includes the Electron-VM Oxygen Generation System (OGS), Vozdukh Carbon Dioxide Removal System (CDRS) and SBMP Trace Contaminants Removal Means (TCRM) installed in the Service Module.

This paper reviews Air Revitalization System (ARS) for Russian Segment of International Space Station software simulation development and implementation by the example the Service Module (SM) ARS. This simulation is designed for the ARS ground test functional analysis and in-flight support Individual ARS complex systems formal description is based on each system description as a unit, using information received from experiments and detailed simulations. Failure can be introduced for contingency simulation.

The paper describes the design specifics of the system for oxygen generation by electrolysis Elektron and major results obtained in long-term operation of the system aboard space station Mir. Operational data analysis makes possible to draw a conclusion that the system is capable to attain life parameters for at least 2 years with maintaining serviceability for no less than 8 years without attendance and unit replacement. Based on flight operation the possibility of reducing power consumption by 10 per cent is proven. System design updates are realized in the water electrolysis system intended for the Russian segment of the international space station.