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primary, Oxygen is produced continually by a machine called Elektron.
This machine conducts electrolysis and is powered by the solar panels
and batteries. Electrolysis is the process whereby water (H2O) is
separated into Hydrogen and Oxygen when an electric current is passed
through water that has been specially treated to conduct electricity.
The Hydrogen, which is very flammable, goes to the negative electric
pole, into storage tanks, and is “dumped” into space. The
Oxygen is drawn off at the positive electric pole, into tanks, and
is then circulated through Space Station Alpha’s compartments
using circulating fans. The supplies of are changed and new water added during each mission of the Space Shuttle. Water also comes from the Water Recovery and Management Subsystem. This system gathers the water from the Heat Exchangers, which separates the water from the air, the urine produced by the astronauts, and the water used for housekeeping and sanitary purposes. A secondary source of Oxygen is the pressurized storage tanks that are delivered to Space Station Alpha via the Space Shuttle. The oxygen tanks can release oxygen directly into the atmosphere and through the tubes in the Space Station. A Solid Fuel Oxygen Generator, or “Perchlorate Candles,” produces Oxygen through chemical reactions. The Candles are used only in emergencies. A chemical called “perchlorate” is packed inside a metal canister. The astronauts trigger the chemical reaction that produces the Oxygen. Each canister releases enough Oxygen for one person for one day. The perchlorate is the same material used on airplanes in the gas masks that drop down during emergency situations. The astronauts in critical situations can also use Portable Breathing Apparatus (PBA’s), or gas masks. The PBA packs give the astronauts 15 minutes of Oxygen. During this short period of time, the astronauts must fix any Oxygen problems that may occur. The PBA’s may also be plugged into Oxygen ports in the tubes of the Atmosphere Control and Supply Subsystem. However, being “plugged in” keeps the astronauts from moving easily around the Space Station to fix things. The PBA is always used with a fire extinguisher because CO2 displaces O2 and without O2 the astronauts would die. Go Back |
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