Human Spaceflight and Exploration

The next generation of crewed space missions will take astronauts further away from Earth than ever before. This will require increasingly complex life support systems (LSS) to keep astronauts alive, happy and healthy. Mission scenarios of this kind therefore require greater autonomy and resilience.

In order to be able to model such systems in detail, a laboratory for LSS is being set up at the Institute of Space Systems. In addition to a central vacuum chamber, this laboratory includes typical LSS subsystems such as carbon dioxide processing, oxygen generation and thermal control. In order to test the various self-built systems, there will also be a metabolic human simulator that, just like astronauts in space, consumes oxygen and generates carbon dioxide, emits water vapour during exercise and emits heat into the vehicle.

Parallel to the laboratory, the laboratory will be modelled virtually in V-HAB in Matlab and a digital twin will be created. This digital twin will be used to make predictions about the condition of the LSS and prevent system failures using machine learning algorithms. The knowledge gained from this can be used to optimise the individual parameters of the real LSS in order to enable long-term operation.

Content will be added shortly.

The Soyuz Simulator is a simplified but life-sized replica of the Soyuz spacecrafts descent module, which enables students to learn fly and operate a complex spacecraft in a typical mission scenario, like docking to the International Space Station (ISS). The movements of the spacecraft in orbit are realistically represented in six degrees of freedom.

Technical Data

Basic Data: Diameter: 2.3 m, Height: 2.0 m
Core Software: Orbiter Space Flight Simulator by Dr. Martin Schweiger; IRS-specific software for controlling the hardware & simulating the Soyuz capsule
Hardware: Realistic capsule with 3 seats, 2 multifunctional displays, and 2 control sticks with additional controls and a monitor for displaying the simulated environment
Ground station with 6 monitors and 4 PCs for monitoring and controlling the simulation
Communication system via headsets based on TeamSpeak
System for monitoring and regulating the 'cabin atmosphere' in the capsule

A variant of the original system has been used in the Antarctic stations Concordia and Halley to examine the piloting skills of crew members in isolation. With the latest system, using Virtual Reality, long-term isolation experiments (8 months) were conducted in collaboration with IMBP in Moscow.

Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claas Olthoff

The Space Station Design Workshop (SSDW) is a one-week teaching & working seminar. The participants learn and practice Systems Engineering and the concept design of manned space systems in two competitive teams.

Who?

• Students and young professionals from all disciplines and all nationalities!

What?

• Design a crewed space system and mission in a hands-on workshop environment
• Experience systems engineering, project management and team organization
• Use advanced concurrent design methodology and customized software tools
• Be part of an international and interdisciplinary team

What do you need?

• English language skills
• Interest in human spaceflight
• Ability to work and communicate in an international multidisciplinary team

The workshop itself is free of charge thanks to our sponsors and supporters!