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This electronic nose, developed and built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., was flown on the Space Shuttle during Mission STS-95 in October 1998. The E-Nose was able to determine changes in humidity accurately, but none of the 10 contaminants the E-Nose was trained to monitor was present. A cabin humidity monitor confirmed the humidity changes, while results of contaminant monitoring were confirmed using air samples brought back from the flight. Researchers are continuing to further develop E-Nose's capability to detect various odors and differentiate between those that signify danger and those that do not. This is especially important for the space station and any future space outpost that features a closed human habitat. Size and power requirements are important, too, since quarters will be constricted. The unit shown is only about the size of a large paperback and weighs 1.4 kilograms (about 3 pounds), including the small operating computer to the left. The computer attaches to the top of the box, which contains the electronics and sensors required for the experiment. The unit uses an average of 1.5 watts of power. Dimensions are 18.5 by 11.5 by 12 centimeters (7-3/4 by 4-1/2 by 4-3/4 inches). JPL scientists plan to make the unit even smaller and expand its odor detection sensitivity from 12 to 24 compounds. The JPL E-Nose flown on the Space Shuttle used sensor technology from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. JPL is managed for NASA by Caltech. #####
Description
This electronic nose, developed and built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., was flown on the Space Shuttle during Mission STS-95 in October 1998. The E-Nose was able to determine changes in humidity accurately, but none of the 10 contaminants the E-Nose was trained to monitor was present. A cabin humidity monitor confirmed the humidity changes, while results of contaminant monitoring were confirmed using air samples brought back from the flight. Researchers are continuing to further develop E-Nose's capability to detect various odors and differentiate between those that signify danger and those that do not. This is especially important for the space station and any future space outpost that features a closed human habitat. Size and power requirements are important, too, since quarters will be constricted. The unit shown is only about the size of a large paperback and weighs 1.4 kilograms (about 3 pounds), including the small operating computer to the left. The computer attaches to the top of the box, which contains the electronics and sensors required for the experiment. The unit uses an average of 1.5 watts of power. Dimensions are 18.5 by 11.5 by 12 centimeters (7-3/4 by 4-1/2 by 4-3/4 inches). JPL scientists plan to make the unit even smaller and expand its odor detection sensitivity from 12 to 24 compounds. The JPL E-Nose flown on the Space Shuttle used sensor technology from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. JPL is managed for NASA by Caltech. #####
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