Detection of Gas Loading of the Water Onboard Space Station Freedom

Because of gastrointestinal discomfort associated with the ingestion of gas-loaded water in microgravity, it is important to monitor the gas content of the potable water onboard Space Station Freedom. A major potential constituent of this gas is nitrogen, which cannot be detected in aqueous solution by electrodes or by spectrophotometric methods.

This paper concerns Lockheed's work in behalf of McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company for NASA's Space Station Work Package 2. As part of the environmental monitoring subsystem for the Crew Health Care System, Lockheed is developing an Optical Water Quality Analyzer. An important feature of this instrument is the ability to unload and measure the gas content of the water sample.