Side view of the entire system worn as a backpack
Karen Morales / CC BY
Getting in trouble during a spacewalk? It’s a secret of space exploration that astronauts wear diapers while wearing their spacesuits, but a new design not only promises to make spacewalks more hygienic, but also an approach to recycling precious water.
according to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Aboard the International Space Station, astronauts use a urine processor to recover water from urine using a vacuum distillation process. Because water is such a precious resource, the life support system aims to recover about 98% of the water crew members bring with them.
Life Support
Not so outside of spacecraft, where astronauts wear “maximum absorbency garments” during long spacewalks. These MAGs, which have been around since the 1970s, contain layer after layer of superabsorbent polymers. They’re essentially diapers, and nothing that goes into them is recycled.
A new design for a full-body “stillsuit” has been released, inspired by the movie “Dune,” which features a space suit that absorbs water lost through sweat and urination and purifies it for drinking.
Water Recovery
Cornell University researchers revealed in a paper Published this week’s The forefront of space technologyThe “Stillsuit” prototype features a unique urine collection and filtration system for the space suit.
“There have been reports of MAG leaking and causing health problems such as urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal problems,” said Sophia Etlin, a research associate at Weill Cornell Medicine and lead author of the study, “Furthermore, astronauts’ drink bags in their spacesuits currently only hold one liter of water.”
That’s not much for a spacewalk that lasts a few hours, and even less when you consider that NASA is planning longer lunar spacewalks as part of its ambitious Artemis mission to the moon. Etlin said astronauts should be able to do 24-hour spacewalks in case of an emergency. At least four Artemis missions include plans for lunar spacewalks with multiple astronauts.
Rear view of the entire system worn as a backpack
Karen Morales / CC BY
To pee
The “stillsuit” includes a urine collection device covered in polyester microfiber. It consists of underwear made of multiple layers of flexible fabric that connects to a molded silicone collection cup. Different shapes and sizes must be used for male and female astronauts. When moisture is detected by an RFID tag linked to an absorbent hydrogel, a pump is activated. Designed for microgravity, it takes just five minutes to collect and purify 500ml of urine, and researchers claim it is 86% efficient.
“The design includes a vacuum-operated external catheter that connects to a combined forward osmosis and reverse osmosis unit to provide a continuous supply of drinking water with multiple safeguards to ensure the health of the astronauts,” Etlin said. There are also plans to provide the astronauts with a separate, caffeine-free, high-energy beverage.
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