Multi-stage Space Suit Cleaning via Airlock Discharge and Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Astronauts returning from extravehicular activities in space face challenges as planetary dust and materials can be toxic and cause damage to equipment and crew, necessitating effective cleaning of space suits before re-entry into habitats or vehicles to prevent contamination.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage cleaning system utilizing discharge units external to the habitat, releasing substances like air, water, and wax, along with positively and negatively charged ions, to remove and neutralize materials from space suits, with collection units to trap released particles and prevent them from entering the interior volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a space suit is cleaned using traditional methods inside the habitat, then the cleaning process is simple, but planetary dust and toxic materials may be introduced into the interior volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an airlock as an intermediary chamber between the extravehicular environment and the habitat interior. The airlock contains discharge units and collection units that perform cleaning operations in an intermediate zone, preventing direct introduction of contaminants into the habitable space while allowing controlled transition of the astronaut and space suit
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process is segmented into multiple stages: first stage cleaning with discharge units releasing substances to remove dust, second stage trapping with collection units, and third stage verification. This segmentation allows each stage to address specific contamination concerns without compromising the entire system
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple cleaning substances are used to thoroughly clean the space suit, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of introducing harmful substances into the habitat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts potentially harmful cleaning substances into beneficial tools by using them in the airlock environment where their effects are contained. The discharge units release substances that effectively remove contaminants from the space suit, and the collection units subsequently trap any residual particles, transforming the potential harm of introducing cleaning agents into the benefit of thorough contamination removal
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where collection units monitor and trap particles released during cleaning. This feedback loop ensures that cleaning substances and dislodged contaminants are captured and prevented from entering the habitat interior, allowing effective cleaning while maintaining safety
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the airlock is used as a cleaning chamber, then contamination is prevented from entering the habitat, but the cleaning process takes more time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cleaning action within the airlock through multiple discharge units operating simultaneously or in sequence. The system maintains continuous operation of cleaning and trapping functions throughout the airlock, eliminating idle time and ensuring that the cleaning process proceeds efficiently without interruption while the astronaut remains in the controlled airlock environment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively removes and neutralizes harmful materials from space suits, ensuring a safe and clean environment within habitats or vehicles by utilizing a controlled multi-stage process that includes blowing off, washing, drying, and coating the suits, thereby preventing contamination and potential health risks.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more discharge units releases air to blow off the material from the space suit in a first stage of the multi-stage cleaning
Implementation Method 2
releases water to clean off remaining material from the space suit in a second stage of the multi-stage cleaning
Implementation Method 3
releases air to dry off the space suit in a third stage of the multi-stage cleaning
Implementation Method 4
releases wax to coat the space suit in a fourth stage of the multi-stage cleaning
Implementation Method 5
The one or more discharge units releases positively and negatively charged ions to neutralize the material on the space suit in a first stage of the multi-stage cleaning
Implementation Method 6
Each collection unit traps released material that is released from a space suit based on the multi-stage cleaning to prevent the released material from entering the interior volume
Data Source
AI summary
A system to perform multi-stage cleaning of material from a space suit worn by an astronaut in a deep space environment includes one or more discharge units installed external to an interior volume of a facility in the deep space environment. Each of the one or more discharge units releases one or more substances. The one or more substances includes water or air and the interior volume of the facility is defined by an interior hatch that is separated from an exterior hatch leading to the deep space environment by an airlock. One or more collection units installed external to the interior volume. Each collection unit traps released material that is released from a space suit based on the multi-stage cleaning to prevent the released material from entering the interior volume.