Design Status of the Closed-Loop Air Revitalization System ARES for Accommodation on the ISS

The Closed-Loop Air REvitalisation System ARES is a proof of technology Payload. The objective of ARES is to demonstrate with regenerative processes:

• the provision of the capability for carbon dioxide removal from the module atmosphere,
• the return supply of breathable oxygen within a closed-loop process,
• the conversion of the hydrogen, resulting from the oxygen generation via electrolysis, to water.

The ARES Payload is foreseen to be installed - in 2012 - onboard the ISS in the Columbus Module. The operation of ARES - in a representative manned microgravity environment - will produce valuable operational data on a system which is based on technologies which are different from other air revitalization systems presently in use.

The ARES Technology Demonstrator Payload development started in 2003 with a Phase B, see references [1], [2], [3] and [4]. ARES is presently in Phase C1 and a PDR is scheduled for the beginning of 2009. This paper summarizes the design development work performed in present phase C1 and comprises an outlook on near-term development tasks in support of the ARES PDR in early 2009.