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Volume and weight will drive selection of toolbox designs for future space missions. A packaging factor to estimate the volume and weight and tool board area of future toolboxes is needed. The purpose of this study is to determine volume, weight, and area packaging factors for use in sizing trade studies of future EVA toolboxes. Packaging factors calculated here are based on operational systems, e.g. the EVA Tool Stowage Device (ETSD) 1 & 2, Airlock EVA Tool Stowage Device 1 (A/L ETSD 1), Airlock EVA Tool Stowage Device 2 (A/L ETSD 2), Tool Stowage Assembly (TSA), lightweight Tool Stowage Assembly (LWTSA), and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) toolbox.

Debris and particulate filtration problems have been persistent during flights on the Space Shuttle Orbiter since STS-6. Analysis of the Orbiter Environmental and Life Support System (ECLSS) indicated that both the volumetric flows and velocities were essentially designed for ventilation, heat removal, and gas blending with minimal consideration for debris removal. The baseline Orbiter filtration system consisted of a single 300 micron filter at the inlet of the cabin fan primarily to protect the cabin fan hardware. This filter was increased to 70 microns and additional filters added after some hardware failures occurred. However, these changes did not clean the environment as expected. An evaluation of the size and type of debris in the cabin air determined that the debris is able to “short-circuit” the cabin filtration system and remains in the cabin air causing the crew discomfort.