This device can turn urine into usable water in space

In outer space, creating water is a huge technical challenge.

According to Popularmechanics , the production of drinking water is something extremely expensive. That's why astronauts on the International Space Station must take extreme measures to get enough water each day as recommended by their doctors. One of them is recycling urine into drinking water.

Over the years, NASA has used complex hardware systems inside astronaut suits and on the ISS to turn moisture, sweat, condensate and urine into clean usable water. OK. Now NASA is planning to upgrade this system to become more modern.

The device that recycles urine into clean water has been launched into space since March 6 on SpaceX Falcon 9. This device will help the machine operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.

"Preliminary improvement of the efficiency and reliability of the existing system will reduce the need for redundant equipment ," said Jennifer Pruitt, Project Director of Life Support and Environmental Control (ECLSS). on the space station. When there is less equipment to be maintained, the crew will have more time to focus on science. "

This device will help the machine operate more efficiently and save costs.

ECLSS is made up of two parts. One is a water recovery system that transports dirty water through a filter system with the aid of chemical reactions and the second is an oxygen regeneration system . Pruitt said that the previous water recycling system often had problems in the environment containing steam. To overcome this, the engineers upgraded with a transmission system that uses toothed straps, load-bearing night loops, Teflon gaskets and liquid gaskets.

In the past, the system that recycled waste water into usable water on the ISS often had problems. There are even many missions that can only be used once and then have to be eliminated because of an irreparable problem. Meanwhile, water and oxygen trips to space astronauts are extremely costly.

As people strive to discover life outside the Solar System, the need for life amenities will become more and more demanding, especially as these systems must operate efficiently and occupy less space. Several research groups are currently considering using microalgae to purify the air and generate oxygen on the ISS.

• How has Singagpore turned sewage and seawater into drinking water?
• Awarded millions of dollars for filtering urine into drinking water