Mapping Life Support System Functions and Technologies to Commercial Spaceflight Applications

This effort couples the functionality required of a spacecraft habitat Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) to technologies capable of meeting those needs. Representative ECLSS models are developed for different mission profiles ranging from suborbital to orbital-short duration and orbital-long duration and extended to lunar and Mars surface habitats. A database identifying currently available ECLSS components with their operational characteristics was compiled, including a review of select technologies in the research pipeline, and related crew accommodations equipment. This information is intended to enable trade off analyses that can facilitate future design efforts and to inform Verification and Validation (V&V) guidelines for defining performance-based acceptance criteria to aid in establishing a flight readiness ECLSS compliance matrix. The ultimate goals of this project are to provide guidance and considerations to the FAA as it continues to establish best practices, standards, and eventual regulations governing commercial human space flight.