Case Study of Current ECLSS Technologies with Direct Applications to Lunar Habitat Design

Modern Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) technology specifications are difficult to obtain due to the prevalence of proprietary technologies, limiting the capability of professionals and students to research and design lunar habitats without relying on out-of-date or limited information. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of publicly accessible technologies, including important specifications such as mass, power, volume, and efficiency where possible, to allow a quantitative analysis of a potential lunar habitat ECLSS design. The following domains are considered the responsibility of ECLSS: atmospheric gas makeup, atmospheric composition, pressure management and monitoring, management of atmospheric purity for life support, temperature and humidity control, fire detection and suppression, food quantity and storage method, water storage and distribution, water reclamation, and waste management (both trash and metabolic waste). Research and technology selections for this case study assumed a lunar habitat for a crew of four over thirty days, with an additional seven-day contingency.