Compact Optical Carbon Dioxide Monitor for EVA

Breath respiratory species measurement during extravehicular activity (EVA) or intravehicular activity (IVA) is a demanding application for optical sensing techniques. Yet optical techniques offer many advantages including high-precision, fast response, and strong species selectivity. Accommodation within spacesuits demands that optical sensors meet stringent size, weight and power requirements. Vista Photonics proposes to develop rugged, compact, low-power optical sensor technology capable of selectively determining carbon dioxide at EVA-relevant concentrations. The enabling technology for meeting stringent NASA mission requirements is a new low power infrared optical source that provides the high-sensitivity of established optical absorption detection techniques.