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The availability of real time, automated, and reliable atmosphere and water monitoring instrumentation within the timeframe of future manned lunar and Mars missions is vital to the success of the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). For these missions, with durations measured in years, the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) must be properly instrumented to assure the crew that the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the atmosphere and water are within ranges that are healthy and safe. The technology for measuring some properties, such as temperature and pressure, is currently available for most applications; however, there are a number of instrumentation functions required for future long duration missions that cannot be performed by current technology. Defining the areas where current instrumentation technology falls short of satisfying potential SEI requirements is a task of immediate importance.

With the evolution of manned space flight has come a wealth of knowledge on supporting human life in the hostile environment of outer space. Each successive manned space program has built and improved upon the last, learning from the successes and failures experienced on each mission. As crew size, mission duration, and mission complexity have increased, the spacecraft environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) has been adapted and improved based on lessons learned from the past. The design of ECLSS for future manned missions beyond the space station must begin with a knowledge of past designs. This knowledge should come from the manned space programs of both the United States and the Soviet Union. The U.S. experience in space is well documented, providing many valuable lessons for future space travel. The Soviets have logged more time in space than all other spacefaring nations combined, yet their valuable experience is too often overlooked.