For Release: Dec. 9, 1997

Tim Tyson
Media Services Branch
(256) 544-0034
jerry.berg@msfc.nasa.gov

Release: 97-277

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has been given the task of providing two basic necessities for life -- water and oxygen -- for the crew aboard the International Space Station.

Marshall is developing the water recycling and oxygen generation systems, as part of the Space Station’s Environmental Control and Life Support System that will allow astronauts to live and work in space on a permanent basis.

NASA and its international partners are scheduled to begin in- orbit assembly of the Space Station -- a permanent, orbiting laboratory -- in 1998.

The work will involve developing an experimental system that will be tested during a Space Shuttle mission in 2000. The operational units for the Space Station will then be completed and delivered to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for planned launch in early 2002.

"This is a very good job for the Center," said Marshall Director Dr. J. Wayne Littles. "We have a very strong, core group in the Structures and Dynamics Laboratory here that has been doing this type of work for years."

"Marshall was selected based on its experience in developing life support systems for Skylab, Spacelab and Space Station Freedom," said Scott Croomes, Environmental Control and Life Support System project manager at Marshall.

"The Center has long been a key player in Space Station’s life support system development and testing, so this is a natural evolution of that responsibility," Croomes said.

A sizable cost-savings is projected as a result of doing the work in-house at Marshall. "We believe we can save the program a significant amount of money -- tens of millions of dollars that the program needs," said Littles. "It is a good decision. I know the Center will do a good job, " he added.

The task will require a significant commitment of the civil service workforce and contractor support. "We expect to assign about 100 civil servants per year to the job over the next three years, and somewhat smaller numbers after that," said Croomes. "Also, a considerable amount of contractor support will be needed to design, develop, check out and deliver the systems to the Space Station program."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photographs are available to support this release. Contact Joy Carter at Marshall Space Flight Center at (256) 544-6849 or the Office of Media Services at (256) 544-0034.