View all text of Subpart C [§ 460.55 - § 460.61]

§ 460.61 - Environmental control and life support systems.

(a) An operator must provide atmospheric conditions adequate to sustain life and consciousness for all inhabited areas within a vehicle that house a government astronaut. The operator must monitor and control the following atmospheric conditions in the inhabited areas or demonstrate through the license or permit process that an alternate means provides an equivalent level of safety—

(1) Composition of the atmosphere, which includes oxygen and carbon dioxide, and any revitalization;

(2) Pressure, temperature and humidity;

(3) Contaminants that include particulates and any harmful or hazardous concentrations of gases, or vapors; and

(4) Ventilation and circulation.

(b) An operator must provide an adequate redundant or secondary oxygen supply for any government astronaut with a safety-critical role.

(c) An operator must provide a redundant means of preventing cabin depressurization; or prevent incapacitation of any government astronaut with a safety-critical role in the event of loss of cabin pressure.