NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Moon Base Life Support Design Depends on Launch Cost, Crew Size, and Mission DurationBrief human space missions such as Apollo and the Space Shuttle used material storage for life support but a long mission such as a space station uses a recycling life support system. The upcoming Moon visits will probably be brief with few crew at first but in the future there may be a long-term or even permanent Moon base with a large crew. The initial life support system will probably use storage and resupply of materials from Earth, but it could be replaced later by recycling, especially if launch cost per kilogram is high. Moon base life support design is investigated considering requirements, performance, reliability, cost, and risk. The launch cost, crew size, and mission duration are variable parameters that affect the life support design choice. Greater launch cost, crew size, or mission duration all tend to make recycling more cost-effective than resupply.
Document ID
20190027610
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Jones, Harry W.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
July 23, 2019
Publication Date
July 7, 2019
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN69482
ICES-2019-17
Report Number: ARC-E-DAA-TN69482
Report Number: ICES-2019-17
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES 2019)
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 7, 2019
End Date: July 11, 2019
Sponsors: International Conference On Environmental Systems, Inc.
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
NASA Peer Committee
No Preview Available