Carbon Dioxide Removal By Ionic Liquid System – Integrated (CDRILS-I) for A Mars Exploration Application

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and humidity control are essential features of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) Portable Life Support System (PLSS). The PLSS for past EMUs such as those for the Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) as well as the Exploration EMU (xEMU) have used solid adsorbents for CO2 and humidity control. The Carbon Dioxide Removal by Ionic Liquid System (CDRILS) technology utilizes a continuously recirculated ionic liquid sorbent and hollow fiber membrane contactors for CO2 removal. The CDRILS technology was initiated for a vehicle Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) application as a planned development for a flight demonstration on the ISS. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center Life Support Systems and the Space Suit and Crew Survival Systems Branches are collaborating with Honeywell Aerospace to explore a CDRILS – Integrated (CDRILS-I) for a Mars exploration application. CDRILS-I includes a space suit life support system for CO2 and humidity removal referred to as CDRILS for Mobility (CDRILS-M) along with a CDRILS Regenerator (CDRILS-R) for a Mars Exploration EMU (mxEMU) concept. The CDRILS-R would be a habitat ECLSS unit to pair with CDRILS-M assuming an operating scenario of a 2-person crew living in a small surface habitat with both crew members performing extravehicular activity in space suits equipped with CDRILS-M. This paper discusses the CDRILS-I approach and development for the Mars exploration application.