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Shareef AlRomaithi enters the Human Exploration Research Analog habitat at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center
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Nasa achieves 98% water recovery rate from astronauts’ urine and sweat on ISS
This significant breakthrough can prove to be a technological milestone for future missions
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has scripted a remarkable feat on the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronauts aboard the ISS have achieved a 98% water recovery rate by recycling the crew members' urine and sweat, a press release issued by NASA said on June 20.
According to the release, the ISS’ Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) can recycle 98% of all water astronauts bring on board the spacecraft. This significant breakthrough can prove to be a technological milestone for future missions.
What is ECLSS?
“ECLSS is a combination of hardware that includes a Water Recovery System. This system collects wastewater and sends it to the Water Processor Assembly (WPA), which produces drinkable water. One specialised component uses advanced dehumidifiers to capture moisture released into the cabin air from crew breath and sweat,” according to the press release.
The 98% water recovery was achieved by the ECLSS during a demonstration of the improved Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), which separates water from urine using vacuum distillation. However, brine still contains some reclaimable water. So, NASA added a Brine Processor Assembly (BPA) to the UPA in order to extract this remaining water. The BPA has helped the water recovery rate on the ISS.
How pure is the water?
Jill Williamson, ECLSS water subsystems manager, said that before BPA the total water recovery rate was between 93 to 94%. With the brine processor, the total water recovery rate has gone up to 98 %.
Is the crew drinking urine?
Jill Williamson said that the crew “is not drinking urine”.
In a statement, Williamson said, “The processing is fundamentally similar to some terrestrial water distribution systems, just done in microgravity. The crew is not drinking urine; they are drinking water that has been reclaimed, filtered, and cleaned such that it is cleaner than what we drink here on Earth. We have a lot of processes in place and a lot of ground testing to provide confidence that we are producing clean, potable water.”
Why is it important?
The latest development has been considered a “pretty awesome achievement”, according to the press release.
Talking about the importance of the development, Williamson said, “The regenerative ECLSS systems become ever more important as we go beyond low Earth orbit.”
It will also reduce the resupply mission from the ground, the release added.
Williamson added that with the regenerative ECLSS systems, astronauts will be able to focus “on the true intent of their mission.”
“The less water and oxygen we have to ship up, the more science that can be added to the launch vehicle. Reliable, robust regenerative systems mean the crew doesn’t have to worry about it and can focus on the true intent of their mission,” Williamson said.
The ECLSS will also help in future space travel missions. It will also help NASA in carrying out longer trips to space, reported BBC.
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