The ANITA Air Monitoring Programme and Instrumentation – ISS and other Applications

Abstract

This paper gives a status report on the flight experiment ANITA (Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air), the development status of the successor unit ANITA II and spin-off activity such as the use of an ANITA-type instrument on a submarine. The ANITA system represents a precursor for ANITA II, a permanent continuous trace gas monitoring system on the International Space Station (ISS). The measurement task in a submarine environment is similar to the analysis in the closed environment on the ISS except for the different trace gases present. A proposed test measurement campaign on a submarine in 2006 is outlined in the paper. The ANITA air analyser can detect and quantify quasi on-line and simultaneously 30 trace gases with sub-ppm detection limits in addition to carbon dioxide and water vapour [4, 10]. This crewed cabin air quality monitor allows the detection and monitoring of trace gas dynamics of a spacecraft atmosphere, providing continuous air monitoring as well as crew warning capability in case of malfunctions. ANITA will be accommodated in an EXPRESS Rack on the US LAB Destiny. The transportation to ISS is provided by the first flight of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Unfortunately, this flight has been delayed until mid 2007. The ANITA team presently works on further improvements in the design and performance of ANITA.