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Objective:

     The principal objective of Integrated Testing is to evaluate candidate technologies at subsystem and/or system levels under a relevant environment, challenged by real metabolic loads and interfacing with other spacecraft systems as appropriate. Integrated testing is a necessary component of any technology development activity to advance a technology’s maturity level. The Integrated Testing Element is a crosscutting technical area that can be utilized within another Element requiring integration of components, for interfacing systems between Elements, as well as evaluation of interfaces between other technology development projects and Constellation projects.

Technical Approach:

     Technologies are first evaluated in a laboratory setting using component or breadboard level hardware to demonstrate basic functionality and performance. Technology maturation is achieved as hardware with increasing fidelity is evaluated in more and more realistic environments until ultimately a high-fidelity system, such as a brassboard or prototype, that adequately addresses all critical scaling issues, is operated in a relevant environment to demonstrate operations under critical environmental conditions with appropriate interfaces. Integrated tests will be scheduled to provide environments and interfaces to demonstrate that potential technology options are mature enough to be adopted by Constellation Projects by the necessary technology  infusion dates.
     This element encompasses the development of the integrated tests to include development of the validation articles; development or acquisition of special test or validation equipment or procedures; scheduling and staffing facilities; as well as the execution of the tests.

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Examples of Completed Tasks:

• Carbon Dioxide And Moisture Removal Amine Swing-bed(CAMRAS)/Constellation Suit Integration Test Phase 1 (CCSIT I): Tests with human subjects were completed in May 2008. Thirteen different test cases were performed, involving from 1 to 6 test subjects, with different activity profiles (sleep, nominal and exercise), and involving control of cabin atmosphere or the air volume within a respirator loop.  See figure below. Two developmental CAMRAS units were utilized. The testing was conducted within the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Atmosphere Revitalization Technology Integration Chamber (ARTIC) which is sized similar to the Constellation Orion vehicle free air volume. For spacecraft cabin atmosphere carbon dioxide and moisture control, the CAMRAS hardware performed nominally under all test configurations, maintaining environmental conditions within established ranges.

• CAMRAS/Constellation Suit Integration Test Phase II (CCSIT II): Tests were completed in April 2009 consisting of the CAMRAS atmosphere revitalization system developmental technology with a simulated suit loop using Constellation Program developmental umbilicals at 4.3psia and elevated oxygen levels. Testing simulated two human metabolic loads at rest and exercise. The test took place in the 8ft chamber at the Johnson Space Center, see picture below.

The CAMRAS is a developmental open loop regenerable technology for carbon dioxide and moisture removal for atmosphere revitalization systems, which is currently a baselined technology for the Constellation Orion vehicle.