Advanced Physical-Chemical Life Support Systems Research

Regenerative physical-chemical technologies for closing major life support functions will play a vital role in reducing the resources needed to support future long duration human space missions in which resupply would not be feasible or desirable. An approach to chemical process research and technology development, as well as systems level research, which can be provided by current state-of-the-art and anticipated advances in computerized modelling and simulation techniques, are discussed. Such techniques will provide a set of fundamental analytical tools for NASA's proposed Pathfinder Physical-Chemical Closed Loop Life Support Program to be used for guiding the specific research and the management of the program.