Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31604: How Students Tracked Carbon Dioxide on the ISS

Air quality is crucial in enclosed environments like the International Space Station (ISS), and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels must be carefully monitored. The NanoRacks-Maranatha Christian High School-Carbon Dioxide Monitor experiment empowered high school students to study this important issue firsthand.

Developed by Maranatha Christian Schools in partnership with the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology, the experiment flew during Expeditions 33/34 and 35/36. The students built and deployed a sensor system designed to measure CO2 concentrations within the ISS.

On Earth, CO2 disperses with the help of natural convection, but in microgravity, the lack of buoyancy-driven flow means CO2 can linger in certain areas. This creates hot spots that can be dangerous to astronauts’ health, causing fatigue or impaired cognition.

The students’ system was designed to track CO2 fluctuations over time in different ISS modules. The real-time data gave insights into air circulation effectiveness, the impact of crew activity on CO2 levels, and how artificial ventilation systems distribute air.

This experiment not only contributed valuable environmental monitoring data but also demonstrated how student teams can design meaningful scientific hardware. By understanding CO2 behavior in space, we can improve both astronaut safety and future spacecraft designs.

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