Yesterday, we told you about the “NextSTEP” in deep space human exploration – building a deep space hab in cislunar space.
Last week, the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration sponsored an event on Capitol Hill and invited NASA to discuss its plans for human habitation in deep space, and to explain the technical progress and gaps that are being addressed as we move toward our first human outpost beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO).
Entitled “How Will Astronauts Live and Work in Deep Space?,” the discussion featured the Coalition’s Executive Director Mary Lynne Dittmar, who hosted Jason Crusan, NASA’s Director of Advanced Exploration Systems (AES), and Robyn Gatens, Deputy Director of the International Space Station (ISS) Division, both of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) at NASA Headquarters. The event was attended by a bipartisan gathering of House and Senate staff, and was introduced in remarks by Representative Dr. Brian Babin (R-TX).
NASA has already begun the process of developing the life support and environmental control systems and habitat structures necessary to support long-duration missions in low-Earth orbit and to traverse deep space as we build up the capabilities for the Journey to Mars. However, as both Robyn and Jason pointed out, the long distances involved and the harsh environment of deep space pose challenges that crews onboard the International Space Station do not face, as it operates in the relatively benign LEO. In particular, the longer return times from cislunar space (the region of space near the Moon) can be several days, whereas the return time from the ISS is three hours. That distance means that systems onboard the hab need to be able to operate reliably, with little maintenance or replenishment from Earth.
For example, the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) onboard the ISS requires frequent maintenance, and is only about 75% closed, according to Gatens. This means that 25% of the consumables (oxygen, water, etc.) must be supplied from outside the ISS. For deep space habitation, the goal is a 95% closed system, with considerable reduction in maintenance relative to the ISS. NASA is making progress toward this goal, but much needs to be done. Furthermore, a decision about which design approach will work best needs to be made by around 2020, so that a new ECLSS system can be installed and allowed to run onboard the ISS for up to three years, in order to fully understand its operational life.
Other points of discussion included the actual hab structure. Crusan discussed the various approaches proposed by the companies who have been awarded contracts to develop deep space hab prototypes. He also talked about the recent deployment onboard the ISS of the Bigelow Aerospace inflatable module – “BEAM” (view the time-lapsed video of the BEAM deployment here), and discussed what NASA hopes to learn about inflatables from working with BEAM. Q&A followed the presentations. NASA’s slide deck may be downloaded here.
All-in-all, it was an educational event that addressed both challenges and opportunities as NASA and industry partners prepare to move into deep space, beginning with the first test mission of the Space Launch System and the Orion crew vehicle in 2018. The Coalition thanks Rep. Babin and NASA – Jason Crusan and Robyn Gatens – for their support and discussion of the exciting next steps in deep space human exploration.
Pictured here from left to right: Representative Dr. Brian Babin (R-TX), Coalition’s Executive Director Mary Lynne Dittmar, Jason Crusan – NASA’s Director of Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) and Robyn Gatens – Deputy Director of the International Space Station (ISS) Division.
Attendees gathered at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill for the discussion.