ESA developments in life support technology: Achievements and future priorities

Following an enthusiastic start in 1985, ESA's life support technology deve lopment programme was re-assessed in the mid- to late-1990s to reflect the strong reduction in European manned space ambitions which occurred at that time. Further development was essentially restricted to activities that cou ld constitute ISS upgrades or enhancements, or support ISS utilisation/oper ations, together with a single, limited, activity (MELISSA) aimed at bioreg enerative life support, in the continuing hope that there might be "life af ter Station". The paper describes the current status of these activities an d summarises the main priorities for future development that were identifie d at the April 1999 Workshop on Advanced Life Support. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.