ISS Potable Water Sampling and Chemical Analysis Results for 2016

Abstract

This paper continues the annual tradition, at this conference, of summarizing the results of chemical analyses performed on archival potable water samples returned from the International Space Station (ISS). 2016 represented a banner year for life aboard the ISS, including the successful conclusion for 2 crewmembers of a record 1-year mission. Water reclaimed from urine and/or humidity condensate remained the primary source of potable water for the crewmembers of ISS Expeditions 46-50. The year was also marked by the end of a long-standing tradition of U.S. sampling and monitoring of Russian Segment potable water sources. Two water samples, taken during Expedition 46 and returned on Soyuz 44 in March 2016, represented the final Russian Segment samples to be collected and analyzed by the U.S. side. Although anticipated for 2016, a rise in the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration of the product water from the U.S. water processor assembly due to breakthrough of organic contaminants from the system did not materialize, as evidenced by the onboard TOC analyzer and archival sample results.

Description

John E. Straub I I, KBRwyle, USA
Debrah K. Plumlee, KBRwyle, USA
William T. Wallace, KBRwyle, USA
James T. Alverson, KBRwyle, USA
Mickie J. Benoit, KBRwyle, USA
Robert L. Gillispie, KBRwyle, USA
David Hunter, KBRwyle, USA
Mike Kuo, KBRwyle, USA
Jeffrey A. Rutz, KBRwyle, USA
Edgar K. Hudson, JES Tech, USA
Leslie J. Loh, JES Tech, USA
Daniel B. Gazda, NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), USA
ICES303: Physio-Chemical Life Support- Water Recovery & Management Systems- Technology and Process Development
The 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in South Carolina, USA on 16 July 2017 through 20 July 2017.

Keywords

ISS potable water characterization, U.S. water processor assembly, ISS total organic carbon analyzer

Citation