Title: Life Support Systems | NASA
Headings: Life Support Systems
Life Support Systems
Sustaining Humans Beyond Earth
SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
ATMOSPHERE MANAGEMENT
Oxygen Generation and Recovery
Carbon Dioxide Removal
Trace Contaminant and Particulate Control
WATER MANAGEMENT
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Content: Sending life-sustaining supplies 250 miles to the International Space Station (ISS) requires careful planning, and a robust international supply chain for delivery in one or two days after launch. Existing life support systems on the ISS provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and manage vaporous emissions from the astronauts themselves. Analysis of these systems allows NASA to identify areas where additional technology development is needed. Addressing any gaps will make life support systems more reliable and effective, which will lead to integrated testing on Earth and ISS in preparation for future human spaceflight missions deeper into the solar system. In the 2020s, humans will conduct proving ground missions in cislunar space, which lies between Earth and the Moon or its orbit. Demonstrating key capabilities like these advanced life support systems will enable future deep space missions. SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE
With so many complex systems comprising life support in space, it is important to understand the overall system requirements to ensure that all the components integrate well together and that ground testing is as representative of destination environments as possible. Specifically in this area, we: Define life support system architectures for different space mission classes. Assess life support system technologies.