Managing Life Support Systems Using Procedures

International Space Station life support hardware is controlled mainly from the ground by executing standard operating procedures. While some on-board software exists for safety purposes, most commands are sent from ECLSS ground controllers to achieve mission objectives. This will prove unwieldy for extended operations with increasing time delays. This paper presents a new approach to encoding standard operating procedures that provides a path to greater autonomy in life support operations. Software tools will allow for adjustable automation of procedures from either the ground or on-board. The Cascade Distiller System (CDS) being tested at NASA Johnson Space Center is used as an example system.