In an earlier assessment of trace gas monitoring techniques it was shown that Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is the most promising technology for multicomponent gas analysis of the breathing air for long duration crewed space missions. It has the potential of meeting all the requirements established for the different trace gas monitoring scenarios; however, it needs further development.
An important step to achieve this development objective is the breadboarding of such an FTIR system with particular emphasis on the critical technologies. The critical technologies as identified so far are the detector and cooler, the gas cell, the infrared source, and the analysis software.
In this paper we will present and discuss the relevant requirements, the planned instrumental and software concept to be realized for meeting the intended monitoring task, and the expected performance data of the breadboard.
The work is being performed under ESA contract.