Clearing The Air On The International Space Station

SPACE TRAVEL

Lockheed Martin Space System's Space Station Trace Contaminate Control Unit Photo by Russ Underwood

Sunnyvale - Feb 5, 2001
An advanced air processing and filtering system, built at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, is scheduled for launch to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on February 7, 2001.

The Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS), installed in the Destiny Laboratory Module, will ensure that over 200 various trace chemical contaminants, generated from material off-gassing and metabolic functions in the Space Station atmosphere, remain within allowable concentration levels.

"While each component of the Space Station is absolutely critical, we believe the TCCS represents a particularly important piece of hardware," said Brendan Alchorn, Space Systems ISS program manager. "Without this purifying equipment, the health of space station crews could be at serious risk."

The TCCS is an integral part of the Space Station's Cabin Air Revitalization Subsystem (ARS). It is designed to ensure that the levels of airborne contaminants in the Space Station Laboratory and Habitation modules are safe for manned flight.

The Space Station environment will be maintained at a level far cleaner than that in a modern office building. There will be TCCS units installed aboard equipment racks in two modules in the Space Station. The first will be in the Destiny Laboratory Module. A second TCCS will be installed in U.S. Node 3, currently targeted for launch in 2005.

Removing contaminants from the Space Station atmosphere is accomplished by circulating a small portion of the cabin air, nine cubic feet per minute, through the TCCS. The TCCS uses two different adsorption material filter beds and a high-temperature catalytic oxidizer (similar to an automobile catalytic converter) to do the processing.

A 10% phosphoric-acid-treated activated charcoal adsorption bed is used to control high-molecular-weight contaminants and ammonia. High temperature (750 degrees F) catalytic oxidation (0.5% palladium on alumina pellets) will control low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons (i.e. methane, etc.) and formaldehyde. A lithium hydroxide chemisorption bed is used to remove acid gas by-products produced by the catalytic oxidizer.

The catalytic oxidizer operating temperature of 750 degrees F was selected to ensure methane removal. The flow rate through the catalyst bed is controlled at 2.7 cubic feet per minute to ensure safe levels of carbon monoxide. The adsorption beds and the catalytic oxidizer are Orbital Replacement Units and are changed out periodically as the adsorption materials and catalyst become expended.

Space Systems has three contracts for various International Space Station elements. In addition to the TCCS, the company has designed and built the space station solar arrays, and rotary joints for the arrays and the thermal radiators.

SPACE TRAVEL

Khrunichev Eyes Bigger Space Truck For ISS

Moscow (Interfax) Jan. 8, 2001
The Khrunichev Space Center is developing new heavy freighters for flights to the International Space Station, director general Anatoly Kiselyov told Interfax.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.