ELECTRONIC NOSE MONITORING (E-NOSE)
Research Area: Air, Water, and Surface Monitoring
Expedition(s): 10 and 11
Principal Investigator(s): ● Eugenio Martinelli, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
● Carlos D'Amico, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
● Corrado Di Natale, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The objective of the Electronic Nose Monitoring
(E-Nose) experiment is to test the technology of
this system under microgravity conditions and
to verify its suitability to space applications.
EARTH BENEFITS
Many important and diverse Earth-based
applications exist for E-Nose technology,
including the current need for advanced
detection devices for security (both civilian and
military) and health safety applications, such as
the detection of explosives and infection
monitoring.
SPACE BENEFITS
The Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) E-Nose is envisioned to be one part of a distributed system for
automated monitoring and control of the breathing atmosphere in inhabited spacecraft in
microgravity. Such a system can be included in an environmental control system, which
actuates remediation of anomalous events.
RESULTS
Onboard tests of the prototype included a simple experiment aimed at measuring the air in the
close environment of the instrument. This verified functionality and sensor stability in the
experimental sessions with the device in different positions. During the 3 runs, the temperature
remained in the range of 21-26°C and the relative humidity between 65% and 85%. The
temperature of the sensors chamber was maintained in the range of 25-29°C. In each run the
sampling tube was moved around in a circular path sampling the air. As temperatures varied
slowly and little in absolute value, this did not influence the responses of the sensors. The
presence of a unique cluster of data indicated a substantial constancy of the air quality during
the 3 runs and the same good reproducibility of the “ground version” electronic nose. This is
because the in-orbit prototype differs from the “ground version” of the instrument only for the
packaging and the electronic circuit design. Functionality and sensors are the same for both
prototypes.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
Electronic Nose Monitoring electronic module and
probes. ESA image.