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Active TRL 4 (started at 2, targeting 8)
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a mucosal irritant generated by off-gassing and metabolic processes and is closely tracked during human spaceflight, as the acceptable limit for crew exposure is low. HCHO monitoring is a requirement for all Moon-to-Mars programs, particularly as the potential for dormancy and lowered pressures in Exploration vehicles could lead to increased off-gassing of HCHO. However, the legacy NASA methods for HCHO detection in spacecraft, which depend on sample return for analysis and only provide concentrations averaged over multiple days, are unsuitable for future missions, where a real-time insight into the HCHO concentration is necessary to ensure the safety of crew members. Efforts have been undertaken previously to develop this type of monitor, but issues with 1) lack of sensitivity, 2) calibration lifetime, and/or 3) interferences from other atmospheric gases have consistently remained as shortfalls.
The Formaldehyde Monitor development will consolidate an understanding of state-of-the-art formaldehyde monitoring instrumentation utilizing different technologies, evaluate those technologies while also continuing to support the development of a handheld instrument based on technology with spaceflight heritage.
The development of a small, handheld formaldehyde monitor will be useful for meeting the trace contaminant requirements of all upcoming Artemis missions as well as Moon Base. Specifically, this monitor will provide a heretofore unavailable ability to monitor for formaldehyde during first ingress of vehicles/modules. Formaldehyde is a known off-gassing compound with low exposure limits that can serve as a “canary” for other potential off-gassing products, making this instrument particularly important. Additionally, the technology would allow for the detection of other toxic small molecules, such as hydrazine.
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