Challenges of Mars Mission Phase Transitions on Spacecraft Environmental Control and Life Support Systems

Date

2018-07-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

48th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

Deep space human exploration mission concepts presented at the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Committee meetings NASA exploration concept include a multi-vehicle architecture, including a Deep Space Gateway(DSG) that would stay in a cis-lunar orbit, and a Deep Space Transport (DST) vehicle that would transport crew to exploration destinations, including Mars. The mission timeline calls for these vehicles to undergo alternating uncrewed and crewed periods over the course of the mission. Previous works have assessed the implications of long-term uncrewed periods to the spacecraft Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) design and operation. The interest in this work is in examining the transition between these modes within the framework of the Mars mission timeline for nominal and off-nominal concepts of operation. These transitions must be well planned with a detail sequence of events in order to ensure the systems are placed in states that will adequately support the target mission phase as well as future transitions. We will look at the steps that must be considered and their sequencing to develop an approach that supports and enables a successful human mission to Mars.

Description

William O'Hara, Sierra Nevada
Miriam Sargusingh, NASA
ICES305: Environmental and Thermal Control of Commercial and Exploration Spacecraft
The 48th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA on 08 July 2018 through 12 July 2018.

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Keywords

Human Mars Mission, Deep Space Gateway, Deep Space Transport, ECLSS, Mission Phase Transition

Citation