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The United States Airlock provides the capability to sustain life in the habitable environment of the International Space Station (ISS) and also supports the Extravehicular Activities (EVA) by providing a means for the crew to translate from the pressurized station environment to space vacuum. The Airlock consists of the Crewlock and Equipment Lock pressurized volumes, two high-pressure oxygen and two high-pressure nitrogen gas tanks. The Airlock Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) System consists of the following subsystems: Atmosphere Control and Supply (ACS), Atmosphere Revitalization (AR), Fire Detection and Suppression (FDS) and Temperature and Humidity Control (THC). This paper provides an overview of the Airlock ECLS System and details the verification and testing methodologies utilized during the Qualification test program.

A CELSS has been defined based on current or near-term technology. The CELSS was sized to support the metabolic load of four people on the Moon for ten years. A metabolic load of 14 MJ/person/day is assumed, including an average of 2.6 hr of EVA/person/day. Close to 100% closure of water, and oxygen, and 85% closure of the food loop is assumed. With 15% of the calories supplied from Earth, this should provide adequate dietary variety for the crew along with vitamin and mineral requirements. Other supply and waste removal requirements are addressed. The basic shell used is a Space Station Freedom 7.3 m (24 ft) module. This is assumed to be buried in regolith to provide protection from radiation, meteoroids, and thermal extremes. A solar dynamic power system is assumed, with a design life of 10 years delivering power at 368 kWh/kg. Initial estimates of size are that 73 m2 of plant growth area are required, giving a plant growth volume of about 73 m3.