Scientists are designing a space suit that can turn urine into drinking water. The creators hope that the prototype, modeled after “protective suits” from “Dune”, could be used before 2030, as part of Nasa’s Artemis program.
Researchers design a suit that turns urine into water PHOTO: Adevărul archive
A sci-fi-inspired spacesuit that recycles urine into drinkable water could enable astronauts to make long spacewalks on future lunar expeditions.
The prototype, modeled after “protective suits” from the sci-fi classic Dune, collects urine, purifies it and can return it to the astronaut through a drinking tube in five minutes, according to theguardian.
The suit’s creators hope it could be deployed before the end of the decade as part of Nasa’s Artemis program, which is focused on learning how to live and work for extended periods on another world.
“The design includes an external vacuum-based catheter that leads to a combined forward-reverse osmosis unit, ensuring a continuous supply of potable water with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure the well-being of the astronauts,” said Sofia Etlin, researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University and co-creator of the suit.
Nasa is preparing for the 2026 Artemis III mission, which aims to land a crew on the Moon’s south pole, with the stated ambition of launching manned missions to Mars by the 2030s. Urine and sweat are already routinely recycled on the International Space Station (ISS), but Etlin says an equivalent system is needed for when astronauts are on expedition.
“Currently, astronauts only have one liter of water in their suit drinking pouchesEtlin said.
“This is insufficient for longer planned monthly spacewalks that can last 10 hours and even up to 24 hours in an emergency”claims the researcher.
According to the source cited, there are also long-standing complaints about the current waste management solution, the so-called maximum absorbency garment (MAG), which is essentially an adult diaper. The clothing would be leak-prone, uncomfortable and unsanitary, prompting some astronauts to limit their food and drink intake before spacewalks and others to complain of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
How the suit works
The proposed system comprises a silicone collection cup molded to fit around the genitals, with a different shape and size for women and men. This is contained in an undergarment made up of several layers of flexible fabric.
The silicone cup is connected to a moisture-activated vacuum pump that automatically turns on as soon as the astronaut begins to urinate. Once collected, the urine is redirected to the filtration system where it is recycled into water with an efficiency of 87%. The system uses an osmosis system to remove water from the urine, plus a pump to separate the water from the salt.
Collecting and purifying 500 ml of urine takes only five minutes. During deployment, the purified water could be enriched with electrolytes and returned to the astronaut as an energy drink.
The system also measures 38 cm by 23 cm by 23 cm, weighing about 8 kg, considered compact and light enough to be carried on the back of a spacesuit.
The team plans to recruit 100 volunteers in New York in the fall to test the comfort and functionality of the system.
