Meet ANITA-2. This second-generation Analysing Interferometer for Ambient Air, installed by ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer during his Cosmic Kiss mission, is designed to constantly monitor air quality aboard the International Space Station.

ANITA-2, developed by OHB System AG, flew to the Station on a SpaceX resupply vehicle in late 2021. The compact gas analyser can automatically analyse and quantify 33 trace contaminants in the atmosphere aboard the International Space Station. It can also detect the presence of unknown substances, which can later be evaluated on the ground.

ANITA-2 is considerably smaller than its predecessor that flew in Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station in 2007. With improved software, the spectroscopy-based facility runs automatically in the background and measures air samples every seven minutes while astronauts get on with their work.

In the closed environment of the Space Station, astronauts cannot simply open a window. They rely on the air revitalisation system. Monitoring ensures the quality of air onboard remains healthy and allows them to react quickly should there be any accidental release of harmful gaseous contaminants or malfunction of the air system.

ANITA-2 is considered a technology demonstration and is part of ESA’s preparation for future missions even farther from our planet. The technology can also be applied to environmental monitoring on Earth and be used to monitor air quality in other confined spaces such as submarines.

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