Difference between revisions of "Life Support"

Revision as of 19:57, 15 April 2006

Purpose

The life suport systems are designed to maintain a habitable and comfortable environment for the Astronauts inside the Habitat. To fulfil this task; the life suport system must do several things

• Provide oxygen
• Remove carbon dioxide
• Maintain a comfortable temperature
• Protect the inhabitants from radiation
• Provide gravity

since the missions undertaken by the OCESS cover much more distance than those of other space agencies, the environmental systems must be able to keep working ofr long stretchs of time without need of maintanence or resupply. Also, to minimize weight, these systems must be small and require the least amount of supplies as possible.

Providing Oxygen

The life support system obtains it's supply of oxygen from the fusion reactor fuel. The fussion reactor onboard the AYSE Drive uses hydrogen as fuel. This hydrgoen is stored in the form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is kept under pressure. Unlike water, hydrogen peroxide decomposes naturaly witghout the need for energy-consuming electrolysis. The resulting hydrogen is then fed into the fusion reactor whereas the oxygen is fed into the life support system.

Using this system eliminates the need for the refridgeration, which is needed to store liquid oxygen and hydrogen sepperately. We also eliminate the need to expend great amounts of energy in breaking up water to provide hydrogen and oxygen.

Removing Carbon Dioxide

A life support system that provides oxygen is no good unless it can remove the carbon dioxide produces by the human body. Since carbon dioxide scrubbers have to short a lifespan to last the duration of a mission, a new way of removing carbon dioxide was needed. Carbon dioxide is removed by way of a cryogenic srcubber. The air is circulated through pipes chilled by a refridgerant at -78 degrees. This causes the carbon dioxide to liquify while leaving the other gasses in a gaseous state. This liquid carbon dioxide is then gathered up and disposed of.

The carbon dioxide gas is disposed of in one of two ways. It can either be transformed into methane using the extream heat of the fusion reactor coolant and some extra hydrogen fuel. this methane is then used to power the puffer jets that maneuver the Habitat. Alternativly, the gas could be ionized and fed into the plasma drives to provide extra thrust; sort of like an afterburner.

Temperature Control

To maintain a constant temperature in space, the habitat is coated with a special white paint. This gives the Habitat an exceptionaly high albedo and reflects about 80% of all heat radiation. To affect the temperature of the habitat is a more active way, reactor coolant can be pumped through tubes embeded in the habitat walls to provide heat; and refridgerant from the cryogenic scrubbed is used to cool down the hab.

Radiation Protection

See main article Hull construction

The Hull plating of the habitat can be polarized; thereby repelling most types of radiation. Since polarizing the plating requires a lot of energy, the plating will only be polarized during severe ion storms. Normaly, the habitat walls are sufficiantly insulated to stop most radiation.

Artificial Gravity

See main article Artificial Gravity

To provide gravity while on it's own, the habitat puts itself in a barrel role and the resulting centrefugal force provides enough gravity for the astronauts to function. While traveling wit hthe AYSE Drive, the constant acceleration provides gravity through the inertia of the astronauts and the habitat.