NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) has achieved an impressive feat in water conservation, recycling a staggering 98% of the water used on board, according to IT media Engadget. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration recently revealed that the Environmental Management and Life Support System (ECLSS) implemented on the ISS is responsible for this groundbreaking achievement.
Utilizing a dehumidifier, the ECLSS effectively captures moisture from the astronauts’ breath and sweat during their daily activities. Moreover, a urine disposal unit equipped with vacuum distillation technology ensures the recovery of astronauts’ urine, an essential contribution to this water conservation endeavor.
Interestingly, the treatment of urine mirrors that of above-ground water systems. NASA disclosed that the distillation process yields a urine brine solution that contains both water and oxygen. The remarkable aspect of this process is the minimal water loss, as Christopher Brown, a member of the ISS Life Support Systems team, explained, “If you collect 45 kilograms of water from the space station, you lose 907 grams of it, and you recycle the other 98 percent.”
It’s worth noting, however, that astronauts do not rely on drinking urine directly. Jill Williamson, ECLSS Moisture Subsystem Manager, clarifies, “The astronauts don’t drink urine, they drink regenerated, filtered, and purified water that is cleaner than the water we consume on Earth.”
This remarkable achievement in water conservation exemplifies the emphasis placed on sustainable practices in space exploration. The ISS’s utilization of advanced technology showcases NASA’s commitment to promoting a greener and more resource-efficient approach to life in outer space.
International Space Station (ISS) [사진: NASA]
[디지털투데이 AI리포터] IT media Engadget reported on the 25th (local time) that the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recycles 98% of the water used on the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA recently announced that the Environmental Management and Life Support System (ECLSS) on the International Space Station (ISS) recycles 98% of all water astronauts carry on board.
ECLSS uses a dehumidifier that captures moisture from the astronauts’ breath and sweat as they work, and a urine disposal unit uses vacuum distillation to recover the astronauts’ urine.
Urine treatment is similar to treatment of above ground water systems. According to NASA, the distillation process produces a urine brine that contains water and oxygen.
“If you collect 45 kilograms of water from the space station, you lose 907 grams of it, and you recycle the other 98 percent,” said Christopher Brown, a member of the Life Support Systems team ISS.
Fortunately, astronauts don’t drink urine like water. “The astronauts don’t drink urine, they drink regenerated, filtered and purified water that is cleaner than we drink on Earth,” explained Jill Williamson, ECLSS Moisture Subsystem Manager .
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