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Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA)
08.28.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA) will monitor 32 potential gaseous contaminants, including formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide, in the atmosphere on board the station. The experiment will test the accuracy and reliability of this technology as a potential next-generation atmosphere trace-gas monitoring system for the station.

Principal Investigator

  • Gijsbert Tan, European Space Research and Technology Center, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer


    European Space Agency, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
    Kayser-Threde, Munich, Germany
    Johnson Space Center, Flight Research Management Office, Houston, TX

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |15|16|17|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Nothing like ANITA has been flown in space before, although other technologies have been to monitor cabin air quality.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • For the safety and health of the crew, the spacecraft atmosphere needs to be continuously monitored for harmful trace gases.

    • The ANITA flight experiment will test a technology novel to spaceflight for monitoring the atmosphere on ISS.

    • In case of accidental release of harmful gaseous contaminants (large or small amounts), extreme off-gassing of materials or malfunctions in the air revitalization system, fast response by the astronauts is mandatory.

    Description

    The Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA) experiment is a trace gas monitoring system based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technology. The initial flight of ANITA tested the accuracy and reliability of the FTIR technology as a potential next generation atmosphere trace gas monitoring system for the International Space Station (ISS).

    ANITA was calibrated to simultaneously monitor 32 gaseous contaminants (including formaldehyde, ammonia and carbon monoxide) at low as parts per million levels in the ISS atmosphere. The hardware design ? a quasi on-line, fast time resolution gas analyzer ? allowed air quality to be analyzed in near real time. For this experiment, the actual ANITA analysis results (contaminant identification and concentration) were not monitored by the crew, but downlinked to the ground support team. In the future, ANITA analyses could be used by ISS crew members for detecting contaminants and immediate initiation of countermeasures, if required.

    The ANITA calibration models developed prior to flight were based on a set of reference spectra of the 32 gaseous species that were considered possible contaminants. Earlier air quality analyses have determined that these trace gases may be present in the ISS cabin atmosphereThe experiment set-up allowed for rebuilding calibration models and resulting software changes to the inflight calibration codes by the ANITA ground team if a contaminant is new or present at a different concentration level. A real-time modification of the operational parameters can be uplinked to the ISS.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    This will lead to new atmospheric monitoring systems for future spaceflight.

    Earth Applications

    The ANITA application of FTIR technology provides an improved multi-component gas measurement system for various purposes, such as workplace monitoring (including airplanes and submarines), environmental monitoring, and control of industrial processes.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    In routine operation, ANITA samples the air immediately in front of the unit. In addition, it can analyze air samples gathered manually from remote locations. The remote air samples are taken applying specially provided air sampling bags and a hand pump. ANITA has two units, the Air Flushing Unit and the Interferometer. Through gas Transfer Tubes the Air Flushing Unit brings in an air sample in to the previously depressurized gas cell in the Interferometer. The gas cell is depressurized automatically using a pump. The Infrared spectrum of the air sample is measured in the Interferometer. The data is processed and stored in the ANITA A31p laptop onboard ISS. The data is downlinked daily to the ground team.

    Operational Protocols

    The ISS crew will start ANITA by setting up the laptop and initiating the 10-day experimental phase. ANITA will be set in Local Sampling. This sampling of air will occur in the immediate vicinity of ANITA. However, it is foreseen to have also two Non-Local samples analyzed. Non-Local Sampling involves ANITA analyzing air samples from other locations onboard ISS. Since ANITA is in a fixed location, the crew will fill an ANITA Sample Bag with air by means of a hand pump. The bag will be flushed three times with local air before the air sample is taken. The crewmember will stop the Local Sampling and connect the ANITA Sample Bag to the Air Flushing Unit. The valve on the bag is opened, allowing the sample to be drawn into the gas cell. The analysis of the Non-Local air sample is automatic. After this process is completed, the crewmember will re-initiate the Local Sampling. The data is sent through the daily downlinks to the ground team.

    After the 10-day experimental phase ANITA remains operational initially for 6 months for further data logging. Non-Local Sampling may take place once per month or when needed.

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    Results/More Information

    ANITA data, recently completed, is still being analyzed . Once final data collection is completed results will be available.

    However, ANITA was used in mid 2008 to detect a Freon leak (Khladon 218) from the Russian air conditioner, and monitor the timeline of Freon concentrations with Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) operations and Shuttle docking. The ANITA data helped to determine that zeolite bed in the CDRA was not effective in scrubbing the Freon leak, but that diluting the ISS air after the docking with the Shuttle substantially reduced the level of Freon.

    The preliminary data analysis suggested that ANITA data were fairly accurate; the peak concentration measured by ANITA corresponds well to Russian estimates of mass released. Air was captured and returned to earth for data analysis to corroborate ANITA results. (Evans et al. 2009)

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • Mosebach H, Kampf D, Stuffler T, Honne A, Odegard H, Tan G The Advanced Air Analyser ANITA on its Way to the International Space Station (ISS) in the Year 55th International Astronautical Congress 2004 2004
      • Stuffler T, Mosebach H, Kampf D, Honne A, Tan G The Flight Experiment Anita-A High Performance Air Analyser for Manned Space Cabins 54th International Astronautical Congress of the International Astronautical Federation 2003

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      Images

      imagePictured above are the different components that are used in the ANITA experiment. Image a courtesy of ESA.
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      imageNASA Image: ISS015E32200 - Flight engineer, Clay Anderson using the Sampling Pump and 2.5 Liter Gas Sample Bag for the Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA) experiment in the Node 1/Unity.
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      imageNASA Image: ISS015E29193 - View of Expedition 15 Flight Engineer, Clayton Anderson, posing for a photo next to the Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA) equipment in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny.
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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