Is there enough oxygen in space to breathe?
The International Space Station, commonly known as the ISS, is a manned spacecraft that orbits Earth at altitudes of more than 200 miles above the ground. It can be used by 5-6 astronauts to conduct research experiments on it, so that we can better understand the operation of things in space.
International Space Station
The International Space Station is the most expensive thing ever built by mankind. Image source: Wikipedia
Obviously, the Issert is equipped with a number of life support systems to ensure that astronauts stay in space as comfortably as possible.
The three things necessary for human survival are water, food and oxygen. We've already talked about how astronauts get drinking water on the space station in this article, so let's talk about how astronauts get air to breathe on a space station so far from the ground.
Electrolysis of water
Electrolysis is the main method of "making" oxygen on the International Space Station. So, what is electrolysis?
"Electrolysis" refers to the process of passing an electric current through a solution containing ions, causing it to chemically decompose. Therefore, the electrolysis of water is the process of decomposing water into its two components: hydrogen and oxygen.
Typical flowchart of electrolyzed water
If you think about it, oxygen on Earth also comes from the decomposition of water, but it is not a mechanical process like the decomposition of water on the International Space Station. Plants, trees, algae, cyanobacterial bacteria and phytoplankton ... All of these organisms are able to break down water molecules in the process of photosynthesis (the process of converting sunlight and water into food).
We all know that water is made up of two moles of hydrogen atoms and one mole of oxygen atoms. When you inject an electric current into the water, the two components separate and then recombine into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. (Information)
The Oxygen Generator System (OGS) is a nasa-designed rack designed to electrolyze water to produce gaseous oxygen. The oxygen produced in this way is then discharged into the atmosphere inside the is the international space station. Notably, OGS is part of the ISS ECLS (Environmental Control and Life Support System).
The three ECLSS racks shown are water recovery system (rack 1), WRS (rack 2), and oxygen system (rack 3) from left to right (Credit: James E. Scarborough/Wikimedia Commons)
Another important component of ECLSS is the Water Recovery System (WRS), which works in tandem with oxygen production systems. Since astronauts on the International Space Station obtain oxygen by electrolyzing water, where does this water come from?
Through the Water Circulation System (WRS)!
Collect water from the International Space Station.
The Water Recovery System (WRS) is an integral part of ECLSS, which recycles astronauts' urine by recycling,
Sweat, other condensate in the cabin, and waste from extravehicular activities provide clean water
Astronauts must have a tap that constantly produces water... They even recycle their own urine.
The collected water has apparently been rigorously tested and is absolutely pure. Ready to support the day-to-day needs of astronauts, laboratory animals, extravehicular activities (EVA) and payload activities.
This water is also electrolyzed, producing air to breathe to sustain life on board
Pressurized oxygen tank
Pressurized oxygen tanks are an alternative to the main method of synthesizing oxygen that can be breathed (i.e., electrolyzing water to produce oxygen). Unmanned cargo ships carry these oxygen tanks and take them to the space station. These oxygen tanks are stored on the space station for use when necessary.
Crew members can also chemically produce oxygen by igniting an SFOG (Solid Fuel Oxygen Production) tank consisting of lithium perchlorate. Each oxygen tank can supply a certain amount of oxygen to a crew member.
Related knowledge
The International Space Station is a scientific research facility operating in low Earth orbit and is the ninth manned space station in human history. The main function of the space station is to serve as a research laboratory in a microgravity environment, including biology, physics, astronomy, geography, meteorology, etc., and is currently operated by five countries or regions, including NASA, the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Research and Development Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency (member states of the United Kingdom[4], Ireland, Portugal, Austria and Finland are not participating in the International Space Station program, Greece and Luxembourg joined the European Space Agency after the start of the program. The People's Republic of China expressed its intention to participate in the construction of the International Space Station, but was unable to submit an application due to the opposition of the United States to its accession for political reasons and the lack of funds and technology from the Chinese side.
So far, astronauts from many countries have boarded the International Space Station for missions, but all of them are U.S. or Russian-led space programs, which also include seven space tourists. Launched from the first partial Akebo functional cargo module of the International Space Station on November 15, 1998. By June 2010, the space station had orbited the Earth 66,000 times. As of December 2018, the space station is expected to operate until 2030.
Russian Proton and Soyuz rockets and the U.S. Space Shuttle launched the main modules of the International Space Station. The spacecraft responsible for the transportation between the space station and the ground include the Russian Soyuz and Progress, the American Dragon Spacecraft 2, and the Swan Spacecraft. The International Space Station can carry up to seven crew members (for a long time), and most of the experimental facilities are already in use. Due to factors such as atmospheric resistance and restart, the actual altitude of the ISS orbit often drifts.
BY：Ashish
FY: Yang Lingbing
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