Commonality Assessment of Mars Dust Filter Development Between Atmosphere In-Situ Resource Utilization and Surface Habitat Environmental Control Systems

Particulate filtration is a key step in ensuring successful operation of many air flow systems. Spacecraft Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) are no exception. Particulate filters are integral to the cabin ventilation system to provide a suitable cabin environment for the crew. Their strategic placement serves to protect various components within a spacecraft cabin from fouling by particulate matter build-up. However,the ECLSS is not the only system whose operation depends on ingesting particulate-free air. Human operations on the surface of Mars will also depend on particulate filters to protect In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) fuel production systems, as well as pressurized rover and surface habitat ECLS systems. This assessment investigates the possibility of having common dust filtering solutions across these platforms. Particulate filtration technologies currently in development are considered relative to their application to both ECLSS and ISRU purposes. As part of this work a comparison is performed of requirements such as operating environments, loading expectation, reliability and lifetime for each application. Results of this work may help guide future development and down-selection of particulate filtering technology across multiple systems in support of NASA’s mission human mission to Mars, including the NASA’s proposed Deep Space Transport (DST) spacecraft and future surface habitats.