International Space Station (ISS) United States Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly Blower Anomaly Resolution

The Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) is the primary carbon dioxide removal system located in the United States On-Orbit Segment (USOS) Laboratory module ‘Destiny’ and Node 3 on the International Space Station (ISS). CDRA is housed in a standard ISS rack defined as the Atmosphere Revitalization (AR) rack consisting of the CDRA, Trace Contaminant Control Subassembly and Major Constituent Analyzer. The AR subsystem operation and failure detection are controlled automatically using software that has provisions for override control.

This paper will present the blower failure that was experienced during AR rack level and Laboratory ECLS integrated testing. The failure description, failure investigation findings and steps taken to return CDRA to flight will be covered.