Corscience supports NASA with advanced capnography technology to optimize monitoring in spacesuits destined for 2026-2027 lunar missions.
NASA and German medical technology developer Corscience are aiming to advance astronaut safety by developing a carbon dioxide (COā) monitoring system for spacesuits for upcoming Artemis lunar missions.
Originally initiated last spring, the partnership between NASA and Corscience focused on developing an in-suit COā washout test system. This system was designed to verify that the suits meet rigorous COā washout performance requirements while lowering helmet noise and reducing ventilation flow requirements. The Corscience CAP201 capnography module, initially designed for emergency, clinical, and MRI applications, was selected to improve and verify the newly developed system due to its reliability across a range of parameters.
To meet NASAās specific requirements, Corscience has been commissioned to modify the hardware and software to allow for a wider operational pressure range and the ability to make adjustments to the flow rate. Additionally, the company is integrating a communication adapter and designing a housing around the sensor that is compatible with the interior of a spacesuit. These customizations will soon be completed ahead of schedule, marking the implementation of the project.
āThis collaboration underscores the versatility of our systems and the deep expertise of our team. We are proud to have NASA recognize the quality of our solutions and to contribute to the safety of future space exploration,ā says Jƶrg Pintaske, managing director of Corscience, in a release.
There is still development work to be done on the new spacesuits, which will be implemented in the coming months. The new equipment will support astronauts on the Artemis lunar missions in 2026 and 2027.
āCorscience proved to be an exceptional partner not only because their module met most of our technical requirements but also because of their proactive approach to addressing critical safety questions from the outset,ā reads a statement attributed to NASAās technical lead on the project.
Photo caption: Capnography module
Photo credit: Corscience
