Resilience of Life Support Systems for Crewed Autonomous Transport Systems for Extended Space Missions in Isolated Environment

Abstract

Sustaining human life during the space missions necessitates highly reliable and resilient life support systems (LSS) aboard space stations. This paper presents a methodology for modelling of LSS reliability and resilience using Markov chain. A three-tier redundant LSS architecture is analysed, comprising: 1) redundant regenerative life support reactors, 2) backup storage systems with catalysts and reagents to restore physicochemical reactors and microbial strains to restore biotechnological reactor, and 3) emergency life support recourses. Markov models are developed to simulate the architecture’s reliability by modelling possible system states and transition probabilities. The model assesses the LSS architecture’s resilience through the ability to absorb failures while still providing life support. The described approach presented may be useful for optimizing life support systems configurations at the early stage of LSS development for maximum its resilience.