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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.

Space Station Freedom (S.S. Freedom) has entered into the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase of the program. This paper oulines the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) design with emphasis on the systems aspects of the ECLSS. Interactions with other distributed systems, such as data management and electrical power are described. The integration of the ECLSS into the S.S. Freedom pressurized elements and truss are addressed.