Assessment of the Current Life Support System and Well-being on the International Space Station for a Sustainable Space Exploration

Life support systems in space have progressed significantly, enabling partial recovery of oxygen and water. Despite these advancements, human space missions remain heavily reliant on resupply missions to deliver essential resources, such as gas tanks, water bags, and food from Earth. Achieving sustainable human space exploration necessitates addressing both technical challenges and the well-being of astronauts. This research examines the current state of critical life support elements—air, water, and food—as well as well-being factors such as clothing, hygiene, and healthcare by analyzing actual resupply data for the International Space Station (ISS). Key findings reveal that resupply missions not only deliver consumables like gas tanks and water bags but also a significant volume of spare parts for maintaining recovery systems. Food supplies, in particular, remain entirely dependent on resupply missions. For well-being elements, while the quantity of delivered supplies meets the standards set by space agencies, astronauts report discomfort with prolonged use of items such as clothing and towels, especially exercise apparel, which develops persistent unpleasant odors over time. The analysis also identifies inefficiencies in resupply operations. Delivered consumables and equipment constitute only 0.21% of the total launch mass, highlighting the logistical challenges of these missions. Dependence on frequent resupply missions introduces physical and psychological challenges, including risks of resource shortages, limited storage space exacerbated by accumulating waste, odor management issues, and stress from the complex cargo unloading and reloading. As humanity sets its sights on exploration to the Moon and beyond, the feasibility of frequent resupply missions diminishes due to increased costs and extended delivery times. This research emphasizes the urgent need for advanced technologies to support sustainable human presence in space. Proposed solutions include closed-loop life support systems, innovative waste management strategies, and improved designs to enhance astronaut comfort and well-being during long-duration missions.