IGF::OT::IGF THE CONDENSING HEAT EXCHANGER, CHX, CAN BE CONSIDERED A CRITICAL FUNCTION OF CLOSED LOOP LIFE SUPPORT DUE TO ITS INHERENT ABILITY TO RECLAIM WATER WITHIN THE SYSTEM. A CHX IS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO COOLING CABIN AIR AND REMOVING HUMIDITY TO ENSURE THE ASTRONAUTS CABIN ENVIRONMENT IS MAINTAINED AT A COMFORTABLE LEVEL. IN ORDER TO REMOVE HUMIDITY, COOL THE AIR, AND COLLECT CONDENSATE, THE CHX IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON HYDROPHILIC COATINGS AND BIOCIDE COATINGS WHICH MINIMIZE MICROBIAL GROWTH. THESE COATINGS HAVE BEEN USED SINCE THE APOLLO ERA AND HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES AS NOT VIABLE OPTIONS FOR FUTURE DEEP SPACE MISSIONS AND CLOSED LOOP LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS DUE TWO PRIMARY ISSUES. FIRST, EVEN THOUGH MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO PRESERVE THE COATINGS LIFETIME, THE COATINGS STILL SLOUGH OFF OVER TIME CAUSING THE CHX TO LOSE ITS HYDROPHILICITY WHICH DECREASES ITS EFFICIENCY AND INCREASES ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICROBIAL GROWTH. AS A RESULT, THE CHX COATINGS MUST BE REGENERATED. AN EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING PROCESS WHICH REQUIRES THE UNIT TO BE UNINSTALLED AND RETURNED TO EARTH FOR RECONDITIONING. WHILE THIS PROCEDURE IS FUNCTIONAL FOR THE ISS, REGENERATION OF THE CHX CORE WILL NOT BE FEASIBLE ON LONG DURATION, DEEP SPACE MISSIONS. THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WITH CURRENT CHX TECHNOLOGY IS THE HARMFUL REACTION CAUSED BY THE HYDROPHILIC COATING AND SILOXANES IN THE AIR. THESE SILOXANES REACT WITH THE HYDROPHILIC COATING AND CATALYZE TO FORM DIMETHYLSILANEDIOL, DMSD. DMSDS ARE WATER SOLUBLE AND ARE EASILY DISSOLVED INTO THE CONDENSATE WATER IN THE CHX. ONCE IN THE CONDENSATE, THESE CONTAMINATES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO WATER FILTERS. ON A LONG DURATION MISSION, WATER MUST BE RECLAIMED FROM THE CHX TO ENABLE A FULLY CLOSED LOOP ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM, ECLSS, AS WELL AS REDUCE LAUNCH UP MASS.