Integrated Status of Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Functions Into the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. Laboratory Element

摘要

Currently the International Space Station (ISS) has limited Regenerative Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) capability. This capability only consists of condensate water recovery that is resident in the Russian Segment (RS). The ISS program planned to have the United States (U.S.) Regenerative ECLSS located in the Node 3 element, however recently the program directed earlier implementation of the U.S. Regenerative ECLSS into the U.S. laboratory element. This configuration change is in the process of being implemented to allow for earlier integration of the three racks containing urine processing, water processing, and oxygen generation regenerative functions into the U.S. Laboratory. The Regenerative ECLSS functions were originally planned for operation aboard ISS after the launch and attachment of the Node 3 element in early 2010. To provide earlier system operational confidence, the Regenerative ECLSS full functionality is being accelerated to be operational subsequent to the ULF-2 flight in late 2008. After the initial phase of operation in the U.S. Laboratory element, the Regenerative ECLSS racks will be available for transfer to Node 3 for permanent use to support larger ISS crews and to free up U.S. Laboratory rack space for payloads. By implementing earlier operation, the Regenerative ECLS can be exercised during a checkout phase to reduce risk by demonstrating on-orbit hardware operation, while adding redundancy and enhancing on-orbit ECLSS capabilities earlier in the assembly sequence. Most recently, the Oxygen Generation System (OGS) delivery to orbit was accelerated to be launched prior to the Water Recovery System (WRS) to gain even earlier operational experience with this critical hardware while providing a redundant oxygen generation capability. The OGS will be delivered to orbit on the ULF1.1 flight in July 2006. This paper will describe the changes required for this recently accelerated OGS delivery.