International Space Station Node 3 Environmental Control and Life Support System Status

The International Space Station (ISS) Node 3 includes a substantial amount of equipment to support a variety of Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) functions. This includes a combination of equipment items that are common with ECLSS equipment distributed throughout other ISS pressurized elements and other equipment that is unique to Node 3. Common equipment provides non-regenerative ECLS functions of atmosphere control and supply (ACS), temperature and humidity control (THC), fire detection and suppression (FDS), and waste management (WM) for Node 3 and/or attached elements. Additional equipment provides air revitalization (AR) and water recovery and management (WRM) functions that are necessary for station-level redundancy, but in a manner that allows for the minimization of life support logistics burdens.

This paper provides an overview of the Node 3 ECLSS as a whole, with particular emphasis on the unique aspects of the Node 3 ECLSS, including the regenerative Water Recovery System (WRS) and Oxygen Generation System (OGS) which support ISS AR and WRM functions, respectively. The development status, key issues and test findings, integration plans, and verification methodologies are also presented.