ECLSS: Environmental Control and Life Support

An ECLSS must perfectly manage gas exchange, thermal loads, and water recovery. A failure in any one system is fatal.

The ISS currently recovers about 90% of its water through condensation capture and urine processing. Deep space missions require pushing this figure to 98%.

CO2 Scrubbing

Human respiration rapidly builds up toxic levels of $CO_2$ in a sealed volume. Amine beds or lithium hydroxide canisters are used to scrub the atmosphere, maintaining partial pressures below 3 mmHg.