Operation of Third Generation JPL Electronic Nose on the International Space Station

Abstract

The Third Generation ENose is an air quality monitor designed to operate in the environment of the US Lab on the International Space Station (ISS). It detects a selected group of analytes at target concentrations in the ppm regime at an environmental temperature range of 18 -30 o C, relative humidity from 25 -75% and pressure from 530 to 760 torr. This device was installed and activated on ISS on Dec. 9, 2008 and has been operating continuously since activation. Data are downlinked and analyzed weekly. Results of analysis of ENose monitoring data show the short term presence of low concentration of alcohols, octafluoropropane and formaldehyde as well as frequent short term unknown events.

Faster Array Training and Rapid Analysis for a Sensor Array Intended for an Event Monitor in Air

“…The testing chamber and device electronics can test 32 sensors concurrently: three substrates with eight AuPd electrodes each and one substrate with eight microhotplates. More detailed descriptions of the device operation American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics can be found elsewhere [7][8][9][10][11] . The sensor data is measured and stored as resistance versus time and for the purposes of viewing here, the data is plotted as the normalized change in resistance, ΔR/R 0 , where ΔR is (R t -R 0 ), R 0 is the resistance at the start of an experiment and R t is the resistance at time t; this data is not smoothed or filtered.…”

“…6 The JPL Electronic Nose (ENose), a 32 sensor array, was first demonstrated for monitoring space cabin air on space shuttle mission STS-95 in 1998 7 . Some of the later developments of the ENose include expanding number and type of analytes detectable 8,9 , improving sensor array reproducibility 8 , including near real-time analysis [10][11][12] . Unlike most sensor array analysis approaches, the JPL ENose included quantification as well as identification.…”

Sensor systems for the Altair Lunar Lander:

“…The JPL Electronic Nose, now on the ISS JPL eNose has evolved and has flown, in some configurations 6,82 The Third Generation ENose is an air quality monitor designed to operate in the environment of the US Lab on the International Space Station (ISS). It detects a selected group of analytes at target concentrations in the ppm regime at an environmental temperature range of 18 -30 °C, relative humidity from 25 -75% and pressure from 530 to 760 torr.…”

“…Use will be made of a modified TO15 EPA Protocol for testing the instrument stability and response [6]. The TO15 protocol employs daily tests using fluorobenzene (FB, C6H5F, mass 96 amu) and bromofluorobenzene (BFB, C6H4FBr, mass 174 amu for the 79 Br isotope and 176 amu for the abundant 81 Br isotope acetone ( 12 C3H6O, 58 amu).…”

“…4 Appendix A1] SMACs [spacecraft maximum allowable concentrations] [numerous possibilities [5][6][7] Particulate counting to sizes less than 0.1 µm Differentiate between lunar regolith [recommended 8 mean value for density of 3.1 g/cm 3 ] & fire-product smoke.…”