A prototype carbon dioxide and humidity control system for shuttle mission extension capability
- Paper ID
1976-IAF-045
- author
- company
NASA Johnson Space Center
- country
U.S.A.
- year
1976
- abstract
The primary objective of this paper is to describe an advanced regenerable carbon dioxide (CO^) and humidity control system being developed for the NASA JSC. The system offers substantial weight advantages compared to the baseline Shuttle Orbiter expendable, lithium hydroxide (LiOH) CC^ removal system for extended missions beyond the nominal design of 4 men for 7 days. The regenerable HS-C system offers a potential weight savings of 431 kg for a 7 man, 30 day mission. A regenerable sorbent material designated as HS-C coadsorbs C0„ and water (H2O) vapor from the cabin atmosphere and desorbs the CO2 and H2O vapor overboard when exposed to space vacuum. In addition to comparison of the regenerable system with the baseline Shuttle expendable system, HS-C mission simulation test results and the flight prototype regenerable system, currentl> being fabricated, are presented. The paper shows the integration of the system into the Shuttle Orbiter vehicle; exclusive of cryogenic fuel cell power expendables, the available packaging envelope is sufficient to stow all expendables necessary for HS-C operation on 30 day extended missions.