International Space Station environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) vent flow reflection and detection by Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL)

Alvin Y. Huang; Alexandra M. Deal; Katie L. Fox; Michael J. Heiser; William A. Hartman; Ronald R. Mikatarian; Matthew J. Davis; Adam Naids; Timothy A. Bond; Brien Johnson; Dino J. Rossetti

doi:10.1117/12.2324549

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19 September 2018 International Space Station environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) vent flow reflection and detection by Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL)

Alvin Y. Huang, Alexandra M. Deal, Katie L. Fox, Michael J. Heiser, William A. Hartman, Ronald R. Mikatarian, Matthew J. Davis, Adam Naids, Timothy A. Bond, Brien Johnson, Dino J. Rossetti

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Proceedings Volume 10748, Systems Contamination: Prediction, Control, and Performance 2018; 1074808 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2324549
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

On-orbit Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) (i.e., mass spectrometer and ion gauge) measurements on the International Space Station (ISS) are presented to show the detection of recurring Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) vents at multiple ISS locations and RELL pointing directions. The path of ECLSS effluents to the RELL detectors is not entirely obvious at some locations, but the data indicates that diffuse gas-surface reflection or scattering resulting from plume interaction with vehicle surfaces is responsible. RELL was also able to confirm the ISS ECLSS constituents and distinguish them from the ammonia leak based on the ion mass spectra and known venting times during its operation to locate a leak in the ISS port-side External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) coolant loop.

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Alvin Y. Huang, Alexandra M. Deal, Katie L. Fox, Michael J. Heiser, William A. Hartman, Ronald R. Mikatarian, Matthew J. Davis, Adam Naids, Timothy A. Bond, Brien Johnson, and Dino J. Rossetti "International Space Station environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) vent flow reflection and detection by Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL)", Proc. SPIE 10748, Systems Contamination: Prediction, Control, and Performance 2018, 1074808 (19 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2324549

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