Micro-Space “Deep Space” life support breadboards

Our “Zero G Centrifuge” continues to spin smoothly at 14 times the necessary speed. It has now logged 810 days of nonstop operation at this speed. Operation for the full 1000 days needed for a low energy Mars mission is very likely – particularly slowed to design speed (1/14 of that used in the “accelerated life test”).

As already pointed out, even if reliable operation for 1000 days were unlikely, this lightweight unit could easily be backed up with spares. At 500 grams for each assembly (but processing and recycling more than 2000 grams a day of highly contaminated water) several could be carried as spares or rigged for online backup operation. This unit is full sized for recycling the biowaste from one space traveler.

We have a second life test running to evaluate our preferred gas transfer membrane in a MEA (Monoethanolamine) CO2 absorber system. This chemistry is routinely used to scrub the CO2 in nuclear submarines and offers high efficiency and long life. Our configuration will use considerably less energy in the recycling process than that used in these subs. While decomposition of the MEA occurs in the process – producing a finite life – it occurs slowly and will require less than 1 kg of MEA to absorb the 1000 kg of CO2 produced by an astronaut on a 1000 day mission.

No operational problems have appeared to make our low estimated weights for long duration life support equipment achievable, nor the affordable human missions that this allows. Admittedly, more certain answers could be obtained if funding were available to accelerate the transition from engineering breadboards to operational prototypes. But, in spite of the reluctance of astronauts and sponsors to step forth for this historic work, progress continues.

Please feel free to discuss this topic further in the Micro-Space Forum…