The Technology Demonstration of the Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor

Date

2019-07-07

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

49th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

The Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (S.A.M.) is a miniaturized Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) instrument being sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. While on-station, the S.A.M. instrument will continuously monitor the major atmospheric constituents as well as trace organic volatiles in the cabin air daily. At its core, the S.A.M. sensor consists of a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (QITMS) coupled to a MEMS preconcentrator, gas chromatograph, and microvalve system. Its miniature, ruggedized form factor allows the S.A.M. to be aisle-deployed throughout different nodes of the ISS to monitor different astronaut environments and activities such as exercise and sleep. The final system design of the S.A.M. flight unit, regarding the GC/MS architecture, the mechanical and electrical assembly, and the software implementation, will be discussed in detail and the S.A.M. flight unit performance will be presented.

Description

Steven Schowalter, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Stojan Madzunkov, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Murray Darrach, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Ernesto Diaz, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Brad Moore, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Jurij Simcic, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Dragan Nikolic, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
Byunghoon Bae, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA
ICES205: Advanced Life Support Sensor and Control Technology
The 49th International Conference on Environmental Systems as held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 07 July 2019 through 11 July 2019.

Keywords

Air Monitor, International Space Station, Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry, MEMS Gas Chromatography

Citation