Next Generation Life Support Project Status

Abstract

Next Generation Life Support (NGLS) is one of more than 20 technology development projects sponsored by NASA’s Game Changing Development Program. The NGLS Project develops selected life support technologies needed for humans to live and work productively in space, with focus on technologies for future use in spacecraft cabin and space suit applications. Over the last 3 years, NGLS had five main project elements: Variable Oxygen Regulator (VOR), Rapid Cycle Amine (RCA) swing bed, High Performance Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Glove (HPEG), Alternative Water Processor (AWP) and Series-Bosch Carbon Dioxide Reduction. The RCA swing bed, VOR and HPEG tasks are directed at key technology needs for the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) and pressure garment for an Advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Focus is on prototyping and integrated testing in cooperation with the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Advanced EVA Project. The HPEG Element, new this fiscal year, includes the generation of requirements and standards to guide development and evaluation of new glove designs. The AWP and Bosch efforts focus on regenerative technologies to further close spacecraft cabin atmosphere revitalization and water recovery loops and to meet technology maturation milestones defined in NASA’s Space Technology Roadmaps. These activities are aimed at increasing affordability, reliability, and vehicle self-sufficiency while decreasing mass and mission cost, supporting a capability-driven architecture for extending human presence beyond low-Earth orbit, along a human path toward Mars. This paper provides a status of current technology development activities with a brief overview of future plans.

Description

Tucson, Arizona
Daniel J. Barta, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Cinda Chullen, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Leticia Vega, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Marlon R. Cox, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Lindsay T. Aitchison, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Kevin E. Lange, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Stuart J. Pensinger, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Caitlin E. Meyer, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
Michael Flynn, NASA Ames Research Center, USA
Tra-My Justine Richardson, NASA Ames Research Center, USA
W. Andrew Jackson, Texas Tech University, USA
Morgan B. Abney, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, USA
Michele N. Birmele, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Griffin M. Lunn, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
Raymond M. Wheeler, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
The 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Tuscon, Arizona, USA on 13 July 2014 through 17 July 2014.

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