International Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support System Status: 2000–2001

The International Space Station (ISS) Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) system includes regenerative and non-regenerative technologies that provide the basic life support functions to support the crew, while maintaining a safe and habitable shirtsleeve environment. This paper provides a summary of the U.S. ECLS system activities over the past year, covering the period of time between May 2000 and April 2001. Significant progress was made on assembly of the ISS, with permanent crew occupation established in November 2000. The Phase 2 portion of the assembly has just one additional flight scheduled prior to completion, with Flight 7A scheduled to bring the Airlock in June 2001.

ISS budget limitations, which are still not completely resolved, have led to a reassessment of the late Phase 3 elements schedule and eventual growth to a seven person crew. The Node 3 regenerative ECLS design activities have continued with flight component manufacturing initiated. However, the delivery schedule to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for element integration has been delayed by 12 months. The Propulsion Module has been removed from assembly planning, while negotiations have begun to consider increased international participation in the Habitation Module and Crew Rescue Vehicle development.