ISS Return Vehicle Pressure Vessel

• ISS Return Vehicle Pressure Vessel by Space Pete on 06 Aug, 2011 19:13
• This NASA JSC solicitation - "ISS Return Vehicle Pressure Vessel" - recently appeared on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
  
  https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=9717fc6e97a7d9e7725f984541295941&_cview=0
  
  The statement of work is here:
  http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/NNJ11396761L/ISS_RV_SOW.docx
  
  

  Quote

  This Statement of Work (SOW) is for the Design and Development, Procurement and Fabrication, Qualification and Delivery of 5 metal-lined, composite over-wrapped pressure vessels. The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, facilities, equipment, materials and services necessary to accomplish the design, development, testing, fabrication, assembly and delivery of 5 pressure vessels in accordance with Tasks 1 to 7.

  
  Does anybody have any idea what this is about? Is JSC working on a pressurised ISS return vehicle?
• #1 by AnalogMan on 06 Aug, 2011 20:43
• A little bit more info from modification 1 to the synopsis:
  https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=f9e497edac3f7e78fcf6a8e7013ef64c&_cview=0
  
  The purpose of this modification is to answer the following questions below:
  [...]
  Question 1: Can you describe the specific usage of these pressure vessels in the ISS?
  Answer 1: They are for cold-gas propellant storage for payload return propulsive capability.
  
  Not clear if the "return" is just for disposal of payloads, or for something more than that.
• #2 by Jim on 06 Aug, 2011 20:55
• I bet it is for ISS makeup air.
• #3 by mmeijeri on 06 Aug, 2011 20:56
• Quote from: Jim on 06 Aug, 2011 20:55

  I bet it is for ISS makeup air.
  

  
  Wouldn't N2O be better for that?