Scientists Develop Spacesuit Capable of Converting Urine into Drinking Water
Future NASA missions could see space travelers drinking reused pee straightforwardly from their spacesuits, because of another waste administration framework created by Cornell College scientists. This group has made a model filtration framework that changes wastewater into drinkable water in only five minutes.
Inspired by the “stillsuits” from the sci-fi series Dune, this technology could be utilized in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon after more than 50 years.
At present, astronauts manage waste in their spacesuits using adult diaper-style garments, which are both uncomfortable and unhygienic.
Sofia Etlin, a researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University, explained that the design incorporates a vacuum-based external catheter connected to a forward-reverse osmosis unit, delivering a continuous supply of potable water. The system also includes multiple safety mechanisms to ensure the astronauts’ wellbeing.
At present, astronauts are limited to one liter of water in their in-suit drink bags, which is insufficient for longer lunar spacewalks. This new system addresses that issue. The researchers plan to test the design in simulated microgravity conditions before implementing it in actual space missions, thereby improving astronaut hygiene and mission efficiency.
