Developing the technological response to realizing an efficient atmosphere revitalization system for future crewed spacecraft and space habitats requires identifying and describing functional trade spaces. Mission concepts and requirements dictate the necessary functions; however, the combination and sequence of those functions possess significant flexibility. Using a closed loop environmental control and life support (ECLS) system architecture as a starting basis, a functional unit operations approach is developed to identify trade spaces. Generalized technological responses to each trade space are discussed. Key performance parameters that apply to functional areas are described.

At present, NASA has considered a number of future human space exploration mission concepts . Yet, detailed mission requirements and vehicle architectures remain mostly undefined, making technology investment strategies difficult to develop and sustain without a top-level roadmap to serve as a guide. This paper documents a roadmap for development of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) capabilities required to enhance the long-term operation of the International Space Station (ISS) as well as enable beyond-Low Earth Orbit (LEO) human exploration missions. Three generic mission types were defined to serve as a basis for developing a prioritized list of needed capabilities and technologies. Those are 1) a short duration micro gravity mission; 2) a long duration transit microgravity mission; and 3) a long duration surface exploration mission. To organize the effort, ECLSS was categorized into three major functional groups (atmosphere, water, and solid waste management) with each broken down into sub-functions. The ability of existing state-of-the-art (SOA) technologies to meet the functional needs of each of the three mission types was then assessed by NASA subject matter experts. When SOA capabilities were deemed to fall short of meeting the needs of one or more mission types, those "gaps" were prioritized in terms of whether or not the corresponding capabilities enable or enhance each of the mission types. The result was a list of enabling and enhancing capabilities needs that can be used to guide future ECLSS development, as well as a list of existing hardware that is "ready to go" for exploration-class missions. A strategy to fulfill those needs over time was then developed in the form of a roadmap. Through execution of this roadmap, the hardware and technologies intended to meet exploration needs will, in many cases, directly benefit the ISS operational capability, benefit the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), and guide long-term technology investments for longer duration missions The final product of this paper is an agreed-to ECLSS roadmap detailing ground and flight testing to support the three mission scenarios previously mentioned. This information will also be used to develop the integrated NASA budget submit in January 2012.

The adsorption of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans to coal surfaces has been studied. Adsorption experiments were conducted on coal samples from eight different Eastern coal fields. In all cases the adsorption process was at least 90% complete within the first two minutes following inoculation. The results of these experiments were used to test the validity of two proposed adsorption models. The first model assumes that bacterial adsorption follows second-order irreversible kinetics of the second kind with respect to the concentration of bacteria and substratum surface area in the system. The second model allows for the contribution of reversible adsorption detected in desorption experiments. It was found that the combined reversible-irreversible model more accurately describes the initial stages of adsorption. Rate constants in both models were calculated for each coal sample. The relation of each of these constants to the pyrite concentration in coal is presented and the significance of these relations is discussed. Scanning electron micrographs of inoculated coal samples show that Thiobacillus ferrooxidans selectively adsorb to exposed pyrite phases dispersed throughout the organic coal matrix. Preferential attachment was also observed along topographical faults in the coal surface. Mercury contact angle measurements on coal indicate that the selective adsorption of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans may be attributable to the lower surface free energy of pyrite relative to the organic coal matrix.

Visions of lunar outposts often depict a collection of fixed elements such as pressurized habitats, in and around which human inhabitants spend the large majority of their surface stay time. In such an outpost, an efficient deployment of environmental control and life support equipment can be achieved by centralizing certain functions within one or a minimum number of habitable elements and relying on the exchange of gases and liquids between elements via atmosphere ventilation and plumbed interfaces. However, a rigidly fixed outpost can constrain the degree to which the total lunar landscape can be explored. The capability to enable widespread access across the landscape makes a lunar architecture with a high degree of surface mobility attractive. Such mobility presents unique challenges to the efficient deployment of environmental control and life support functions in multiple elements that may for long periods of time be operated independently. This paper describes some of those anticipated challenges.

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