Life Support and Habitation Systems: Crew Support and Protection for Human Exploration Missions Beyond Low-Earth Orbit

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently expanded its mission set for possible future human exploration missions. With multiple destination options it is of interest to identify technology needs across these missions to focus technology investments. In addition to the Moon and other destinations in cislunar space, destinations including near-Earth objects and Mars have been added for consideration. Technology programs and projects have been recently re-organizing to better meet the Agency’s strategic goals and to address needs across these potential future missions. Life Support and Habitation Systems (LSHS) is one of 10 Foundational Domains that are part of the NASA Exploration Technology Development Program. The chief goal of LSHS is to develop and mature advanced technologies to sustain human life on missions beyond low-Earth orbit to increase reliability, reduce dependency on resupply, and increase vehicle self-sufficiency. Further closure of life support systems is of interest for long duration exploration missions. The focus of LSHS includes key technologies for atmosphere revitalization, water recovery, waste management, food production, thermal control, crew accommodations, environmental monitoring, fire protection, and radiation protection. The aim is to recover additional consumable mass; reduce requirements for power, volume, heat rejection, and crew involvement; and meet exploration vehicle requirements. This paper provides a brief description of the LSHS Foundational Domain as defined for fiscal year 2011.