Making every drop count

Box 2 | Making water for astronauts from sweat, breath – and urine

If you’re an astronaut, chances are you’re already familiar with water recycling – and maybe even having to drink recycled urine.

NASA is currently developing several initiatives to recycle water more efficiently on the International Space Station, as well as preparation for future trips to the moon and Mars.

Aboard the International Space Station, crewmembers are allocated two litres of water daily. Most of it is delivered – at great expense – via NASA's Space Shuttle or the Progress supply ships sent up by the Russian space program.

But part also comes from recycling wastewater, condensate in the air, and urine aboard the Space Station.

Researches are developing a new technology to recover water from astronauts’ sweat, breath vapour and urine. The system includes a urine processor assembly to recover water from urine. This water is then purified to a potable standard by a Water Processor Assembly, which is expected to produce 132 litres of potable water daily – sufficient for a seven-person crew.

The technology is also expected to be of use here on Earth, where it could be used by humanitarian groups in countries where fresh water is unavailable, or in the wake of disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Water recycling is also playing a part in preparations for a possible trip to Mars around the year 2030, with experiments currently underway in Antarctica.

The French-Italian crew from the European Space Agency is spending a year at Concordia station in Antarctica to research two projects related to a possible Mars trip. The projects look at what’s involved in psychologically adapting to a new environment and developing a group identity, as well as research looking at how microbes spread and evolve in an isolated environment.

To preserve the pristine Antarctic environment, all greywater from the showers, dishwashing and laundry is recycled, and all waste material removed from the continent.

Box
Box 1. Turning recycled sewage into a tourist attraction

Related sites
NASA advances water recycling for space travel and Earth use (National Aeronautical Space Agency, USA) Mission to Mars via Antarctica (European Space Agency)

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Posted August 2006.