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To satisfy a requirement to supply water to Mir station, a process for treating iodinated water on the Shuttle was developed and implemented. The treatment system consists of packed columns for removing iodine and a syringe-based injection system for adding ionic silver, the biocide used in Mir water. Technical and potable grade water is produced and transferred in batches using collapsible 44-liter contingency water containers (CWCs). Silver is added to the water via injection of a solution from preloaded syringes. Minerals are also added to water destined for drinking. During the previous four Shuttle-Mir docking missions a total of 2781 liters (735 gallons) of water produced by the Shuttle fuel cells was processed using this method and transferred to Mir. To verify the quality of the processed water, samples were collected during flight and returned for chemical analysis.

The Orbiter Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) functioned successfully on 76 Shuttle missions to date. The ECLSS consists of six subsystems which provide both a habitable environment for the crew and active vehicle thermal control. The Orbiter ECLSS design is reviewed in this paper and the operational flight experience is summarized. Significant flight problems are described, along with the design or procedural changes implemented to resolve the problems. The design and flight experience is summarized for recent enhancements to the ECLSS to meet extended duration missions and to accommodate visits to the Mir Space Station and to the International Space Station.

A new waste collection system (WCS) is undergoing development for use in the extended duration orbiter (EDO). Requirements for missions up to 18 days and the capability for missions up to 30 days necessitate the development of a new WCS that will have the appropriate capacity. The new system incorporates design features from both Skylab and Space Shuttle Orbiter WCSs. For urine collection, airflow is used to entrain the fluid and transport it to the phase separator where it is separated from the airflow and pumped to the waste water tank. For fecal collection, airflow is used to transport the waste into a collection bag. After use, a plastic lid is installed on the bag, and the bag and contents are compacted. The system for EDO utilizes redundant fans and urine separators. Plans call for the new WCS to be implemented for OV-105 (Endeavor) as well as for EDO. This paper describes the design and development status of the new WCS.