An Overview of the Space Station Freedom Environmental Health System

The closed environment of Space Station Freedom, unique in its dependence on recycled air and water and extended tours of crew duty, will pose unparalleled challenges in the area of internal contamination control and environmental health. Various planned operational activities will have the potential to contribute to the contamination load of the station environment. Sensitive and effective detection methods will be required to alert crewmembers if contamination levels exceed the maximum allowable limits established to ensure crew health and safety. The Environmental Health System (EHS) is being developed to provide Freedom with capabilities for environmental sample collection, processing, and analysis of the breathing atmosphere, potable and hygiene water, and internal surfaces. The EHS will provide monitoring capabilities utilizing six subsystems: microbiology, toxicology, water quality, radiological health, vibroacoustics, and barothermal physiology.