Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air

Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA) is a trace gas monitoring system for the International Space Station. It is developed by OHB and SINTEF under contract of ESA.

Working principle

ANITA is based on Fourier-Transform-Infrared-Spectroscopy FTIR. Each measured gas absorbts light in a certain frequency, these spectral lines are analysed and a gas concentration is calculated.

Development

ANITA-1 was operating from Sept 2007 until Aug 2008 on board the ISS. It weighed >55kg which was distributed in 2 Middeck Locker Inserts and a Laptop. Power consumption was approx. 150W. It was able to measure more than 32 trace gases on board the ISS.[1][2]

ANITA-2 launched on SpaceX CRS-24 in Dec. 2021. It has been significantly reduced in size (1 Middeck Locker Insert) and mass (<38kg). The total power consumption is approx. 80W. It features WiFi Connection and a Touch Screen for a more versatile use. Compared to ANITA-1 it has a significantly increased (~factor 4) Signal to Noise Ratio allowing lower detection limits. ANITA-2 is calibrated to detect 37 gases, mostly with a detection limit well below 1ppm.[3][4] ANITA-2 was installed in an Express Rack inside the Destiny Lab by Matthias Maurer January 5, 2022.[5] ANITA-2 is running nearly continuously on board the ISS since March 2022 and is monitoring the gas environment.

Usage

Using ANITA-1 Freon 218 was able to be detected on board the ISS, which was probably leaking from a Russian cooling loop.[6]

References
  1. Stuffler, T., et al. ANITA air monitoring on the international space station part 1: The mission. No. 2008-01-2042. SAE Technical Paper, 2008.
  2. Honne, A., et al. "ANITA Air monitoring on the international space station part 2: air analyses." SAE International Journal of Aerospace 1.1 (2009): 178.
  3. Gisi, Michael, et al. "ANITA2 Trace Gas Analyser for the ISS-Flight Model Finalization and ground test results." 49th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2019.
  4. Stuffler, Timo, et al. "ANITA2 Flight Model Development-A status report of the multicomponent ISS Air Analyser." 47th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2017.
  5. "Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air (ANITA-2) Installation in Destiny Lab Express Rack". www.esa.int.
  6. "Prima Klima oder dicke Luft auf der ISS?". www.esa.int.
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