Project Description:
The purpose of this project was to investigate Portable Life Support System (PLSS) designs for Mars extravehicular activity (EVA), with the overarching goal of reducing total system mass while maintaining system functionality. Technical sub-teams looked at subsystems or component-level changes to reduce mass, such as lighter avionics boxes, solid-state batteries, an isogrid backplate, and the use of lithium hydroxide for carbon dioxide removal. Real-world center of gravity tests were conducted to assess potential exertion levels for the astronaut with different mass distributions in the PLSS. A system-level design was created, with maintainability in mind, to combine these subsystems into a full PLSS mockup, including a 3D-printed prototype. The final design features a total wet mass of 72.5 kg, for a percent change from the current NASA PLSS design of -31.6%.
