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Clearing The Air On The International Space Station
Sunnyvale - Feb 5, 2001 An advanced air processing and filtering system, built at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, is scheduled for launch to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on February 7, 2001. The Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS), installed in the Destiny Laboratory Module, will ensure that over 200 various trace chemical contaminants, generated from material off-gassing and metabolic functions in the Space Station atmosphere, remain within allowable concentration levels. "While each component of the Space Station is absolutely critical, we believe the TCCS represents a particularly important piece of hardware," said Brendan Alchorn, Space Systems ISS program manager. "Without this purifying equipment, the health of space station crews could be at serious risk." The TCCS is an integral part of the Space Station's Cabin Air Revitalization Subsystem (ARS). It is designed to ensure that the levels of airborne contaminants in the Space Station Laboratory and Habitation modules are safe for manned flight. The Space Station environment will be maintained at a level far cleaner than that in a modern office building. There will be TCCS units installed aboard equipment racks in two modules in the Space Station. The first will be in the Destiny Laboratory Module. A second TCCS will be installed in U.S. Node 3, currently targeted for launch in 2005. Removing contaminants from the Space Station atmosphere is accomplished by circulating a small portion of the cabin air, nine cubic feet per minute, through the TCCS. The TCCS uses two different adsorption material filter beds and a high-temperature catalytic oxidizer (similar to an automobile catalytic converter) to do the processing. A 10% phosphoric-acid-treated activated charcoal adsorption bed is used to control high-molecular-weight contaminants and ammonia. High temperature (750 degrees F) catalytic oxidation (0.5% palladium on alumina pellets) will control low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons (i.e. methane, etc.) and formaldehyde. A lithium hydroxide chemisorption bed is used to remove acid gas by-products produced by the catalytic oxidizer. The catalytic oxidizer operating temperature of 750 degrees F was selected to ensure methane removal. The flow rate through the catalyst bed is controlled at 2.7 cubic feet per minute to ensure safe levels of carbon monoxide. The adsorption beds and the catalytic oxidizer are Orbital Replacement Units and are changed out periodically as the adsorption materials and catalyst become expended. Space Systems has three contracts for various International Space Station elements. In addition to the TCCS, the company has designed and built the space station solar arrays, and rotary joints for the arrays and the thermal radiators. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Lockheed Martin Space Systems SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News
NASA Refines Design For Crew Exploration Vehicle
Washington DC (SPX) Jan 12, 2006NASA's Constellation Program is making progress toward selecting a prime contractor to design, develop and build the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), America's first new human spacecraft in 30 years. |
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