What is a life support system?
Life support system includes technologies designed to simulate living conditions on Earth. This includes systems necessary for human survival, such as adequate atmospheric pressure, radiation shading necessary for the health threat of space rays and artificial gravity to minimize bone density and muscle atroping on long spatial missions. Other basic elements of life support are the ability to recycle air and water, maintain optimal heat and humidity for human comfort and food storage systems and waste disposal. ECLSS primarily serves the air cleaning function on board of ISS particles, microorganisms and undesirable gases, such as the ECPs, such as the 2 and volatile organic compounds issued by the device or cargo. The system also maintains the right atmospheric pressure and water vapor levels, which facilitates even temperature and pressure throughout the station. Water is also cleaned also Eclss, along with the ability to provide freshoxygen for breathing.
While the life support system used by the EclSs is reliable and durable, it is not entirely separate. Most of the water at the station is recycled and repeatedly used, including the oxygen source, but the station must be regularly supplied with water. This is partly due to the fact that the water is divided into the formation of oxygen and hydrogen created in the process of electrolysis that has done to this is bleed into space. Research is underway to develop a set of carbon dioxide (CREA), which will react hydrogen with CO 2 exhaled by the crew to generate fresh water and methane fuel.
Long duration trips, which can take months to years, will require a closed ecological system that is completely self -sufficient. One of the main components for this will be a form of energy source that is more durable than the units of the power module (PSM), which the ISS uses to break water and clean it, as well as to ensure heat, light and electricity on the station. Also, it will not be possible to bear all the water and air necessary for such paths from the beginning and the production of clean water and air on the way will be necessary to regenerate.
One approach to establishing a feasible system of support for primary life for supplying food, air and water has undergone the projects of biosphere and Mars on Earth (MOE) sponsored by the American National Aviation and Space Administration (NASA). They try to simulate the living conditions in envihorence completely isolated from external stocks. The effective system of supporting life created from this research could clean air and water and be a source of food. NASA sees six decisive elements of life support that needs to be solved in its Advanced Life Support (ALS) project. These include the solution of pure food, water and air and logistics of biomass, thermal and waste.
Long -term effects of human cosmic flight can also beharmful due to radiation, weightlessness and psychological isolation of the crew. Turning aboard the ship can protect the crew from some radiation in space. Turn the spacecraft on its central axis, when it moves towards the target, can also generate a simulated level of gravity along the outer fuselage due to the effects of centripetal acceleration.
Russian cosmonauts have the most extensive experience with insulation at space stations aboard the orbit on Earth. In 2002, they performed an experiment entitled Simulation of the International Crew flight at the Space Station (SFINCSS), where volunteers alternated for eight months in a limited space. The history of missions with a long duration at the Russian space station Mir is also considered to be very valuable medical and psychological data. It can be essential for preparing for effects that every crew can meet for a year and a half long mission to the Mars planet.