Exploring the Benefits of Evolving ISS ECLSS Hardware to 3-D Printed Hardware for Lunar/Mars Surface Habitats: Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly Case Study

As humans return to the moon and venture on to Mars, subsystem hardware needs to be designed to be repairable, replaceable and duplicatable in-situ to the maximum extent possible. To ship all hardware and spares that would be needed for a lunar or Mars surface habitat, based on ISS designs, would debilitate any space program�s mass and volume numbers. Anticipating improvements in 3-D printing, surface habitat ECLSS hardware should be re-designed to utilize this new approach. Ultimately, every part that is possible to 3-D print (metal and plastic) should be made that way from the start and the files and printer capability included in the habitat to maximize the possibility of repairs, replacements or to make additional units as the facility grows. Similarly, a recycling capability for the broken/damaged/used parts (metal and plastic) should exist to avoid waste and minimize raw material resupply. As a case study for this effort, this paper will explore the potential benefits of evolving the ISS Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly to 3-D printed hardware. It will also propose incorporation of ISS lessons learned for sizing, maintenance and repair, and suggest changes to utilize surface gravity to reduce installed and spares hardware mass and volume.