Exploration Lessons From The International Space Station
Exploration Lessons From The International Space Station
Exploration Lessons From The International Space Station
Space Administration
white paper
Background
The International Space Station is the world’s International Space Station crews have also
preeminent orbital microgravity platform. been part of a critical experiment, volunteering
For more than 20 years, scientists have used themselves as test subjects for research into
the space station to conduct research into human adaptation to microgravity. These long-
biological, physical, biomedicine, materials, duration demonstrations and experiments
and Earth and space science. Technology into the joint human-and-vehicle system are
demonstrations aboard the space station enabling future human exploration of the solar
have advanced state-of-the-art applications system. The station will operate through 2030,
with benefits both on Earth and in space. The continuing to offer benefits to humanity while
space station’s redundant systems enable the paving the way for commercial industry to meet
crew to test multiple environmental systems NASA’s needs in low-Earth orbit and beyond.
simultaneously, creating a unique testbed for
life support and environmental technology The International Space Station has five major
that will enable future exploration. Sensors goals and has realized significant advances in
deployed on the space station have validated each:
climate models and contributed to host of new • Enable deep space exploration.
information about Earth’s changing climate, • Conduct research to benefit humanity.
while space science instruments on the orbiting • Foster a U.S. commercial space industry.
laboratory have advanced our knowledge of • Lead and enable international collaboration.
phenomena like neutron stars and dark matter. • Inspire humankind.
2023 Moon to
Mars Architecture
Figure 1. This mosaic depicts the International Space Station pictured from the SpaceX Crew
Dragon Endeavour during a fly around of the orbiting lab that took place following its undocking
from the Harmony module’s space-facing port on Nov. 8, 2021.
The initial ECLSS was an open-loop, non-regenerative A redesigned Sabatier carbon dioxide reduction system,
system. The Exploration ECLSS is a regenerative air which produces methane from CO2 and hydrogen, will
and water system. Ongoing upgrades will continue to also fly to the station in FY25. This will be a redesigned
improve reclamation of water and air and overall system reflight of a previous Sabatier system that failed because
reliability. of catalyst bed contamination and degradation.
The Water Recovery System provides clean water When integrated together, the Exploration ECLSS air
for astronaut use by recycling urine; cabin humidity systems will recover approximately 50 percent of the
condensate from crew sweat, respiration, and hygiene; oxygen from carbon dioxide. In addition, NASA has
and water recovered from the Air Revitalization System. been working on advanced carbon dioxide reduction
The Urine Processor Assembly, part of the Water Recovery technologies that will potentially recover more than 75
Another, more modern sextant technology on the Figure 3. Astronaut Frank Rubio checks tomato plants
space station is also contributing to future navigation growing inside the International Space Station for the
capabilities. The external Neutron-star Interior XROOTS space botany study.
Key Take-Aways
For more than 20 years, scientists have used the International Space Station to conduct
research into biological, physical, biomedicine, materials, and Earth and space science.
The International Space Station offers a unique platform for demonstrating new technology
in space, including the technologies needed for the Artemis missions to the Moon and future
missions to Mars.
Crew members aboard the International Space Stations have been a critical part of the
experiments, volunteering as test subjects for research into human adaptation to microgravity.