1:47 PM - 2:02 PM
[HCG25-01] Recent Topics about Environmental Control and Life Support System for Space, the Lunar, and the Mars
Keywords:ECLSS, ISRU, Simulation of Material Circulation
An Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) provides the materials necessary for human survival in ultimate environments, such as space or the moon, and maintains an environment in which humans can live. Among them, a Controlled/Closed Life Support System (CELSS) aims to maintain the environment while regenerating and circulating the necessary materials within the system as much as possible and can be said to be the ultimate form of ECLSS.
Following the Artemis program, which is being carried out mainly by the United States, various movements have been taking place in Japan in recent years. In the Artemis program, Japan is responsible for the development and implementation of ECLSS technology in the International Habitat Module (I-Hab) of the Lunar Gateway, and is also responsible for the landing of two Japanese astronauts on the moon, the operation of the lunar rover (Lunar Cruiser), and the supply of materials to the Gateway. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the development of unmanned construction technology on the moon as named "Space Construction Innovation Project." In this way, organizations that have not been players in space development, or that have come back to have stayed away from space development are being included in this field.
In addition, research on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) has progressed significantly in the lunar or Mars development. There are few studies in Japan that consider ISRU to simulate ECLSS material circulation, but many such studies have been published in the United States and Europe. The background to this trend is that the numerical calculation code "V-Hab," that was developed by the University of Stuttgart in Germany, has become widely used in the United States. Simulations that include plant food production are also being conducted with ISRU. In addition, a department related to ECLSS has been established and development is about to begin in the open-source software called Space Station OS of the SpaceData, a Japanese startup company.
On outreach field, the ECLSS-Lab, centered around Dr. Masato Sakurai at JAXA, has grown into a very large organization that brings together students and working people from various fields who are interested in ECLSS.
In this presentation, I will review the ECLSS-related activities that have occurred in the past few years, and discuss about topics related to numerical calculations.
Following the Artemis program, which is being carried out mainly by the United States, various movements have been taking place in Japan in recent years. In the Artemis program, Japan is responsible for the development and implementation of ECLSS technology in the International Habitat Module (I-Hab) of the Lunar Gateway, and is also responsible for the landing of two Japanese astronauts on the moon, the operation of the lunar rover (Lunar Cruiser), and the supply of materials to the Gateway. In addition, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the development of unmanned construction technology on the moon as named "Space Construction Innovation Project." In this way, organizations that have not been players in space development, or that have come back to have stayed away from space development are being included in this field.
In addition, research on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) has progressed significantly in the lunar or Mars development. There are few studies in Japan that consider ISRU to simulate ECLSS material circulation, but many such studies have been published in the United States and Europe. The background to this trend is that the numerical calculation code "V-Hab," that was developed by the University of Stuttgart in Germany, has become widely used in the United States. Simulations that include plant food production are also being conducted with ISRU. In addition, a department related to ECLSS has been established and development is about to begin in the open-source software called Space Station OS of the SpaceData, a Japanese startup company.
On outreach field, the ECLSS-Lab, centered around Dr. Masato Sakurai at JAXA, has grown into a very large organization that brings together students and working people from various fields who are interested in ECLSS.
In this presentation, I will review the ECLSS-related activities that have occurred in the past few years, and discuss about topics related to numerical calculations.