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Results of the Aerosol Sampling Experiment on the International Space StationThe indoor air quality of the International Space Station (ISS), in terms of particulate matter, has been assessed through a sampling experiment that collected airborne debris for return to Earth. The Aerosol Sampling Experiment took place on ISS in December 2016 and January 2017, with sample return in February 2017. For redundancy, two different aerosol samplers collected particles in two size ranges spanning from 10 nm to hundreds of micrometers. Multiple analysis techniques have been used to characterize the particles, such as reflective light microscopy, manual scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis (secondary and backscattered imaging) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) x-ray analysis, computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Sampling took place in five locations on ISS, with the greatest deposition of particles in Node 3, followed by Node 1, the US Lab and Node 2. The PMM had very few airborne particles, as expected, owing to the lack of human presence. A large proportion of the sampled material consisted of fibers from clothing. Many particles had complex morphologies or contained multiple metals in a carbonaceous matrix. Metal particles were analyzed for each sampling location in terms of both weight and number percent, with 27 heavy metals detected. Fiberglass and TiO2 particles were present in every location. Quantitative analysis results are presented, and where possible, particle emission sources are identified with the intention to fuel discussions on mitigation.
Document ID
20180004817
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Meyer, Marit E.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 30, 2018
Publication Date
July 8, 2018
Subject Category
Environment Pollution
Report/Patent Number
ICES-2018-100
GRC-E-DAA-TN54301
Report Number: ICES-2018-100
Report Number: GRC-E-DAA-TN54301
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES 2018)
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: July 8, 2018
End Date: July 12, 2018
Sponsors: International Conference On Environmental Systems, Inc.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 089407.01.22
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX17EC75P
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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