Astronauts to turn urine into drinking water

by Amy Judd | November 14, 2008 at 11:33 am

1339 views | 31 Recommendations | 18 comments

In the spirit of National Recycling week, NASA will be sending up a water recycling device to the International Space Station that will recycle urine into drinking water.

This coincides with the move to double the number of astronauts onboard the Space Station, and blind tests reported only a faint taste of iodine could be detected.

"It is just as refreshing as any other kind of water. I've got some in my fridge," he added. "It tastes fine to me."

NASA's 124th shuttle mission is due to launch at 7:55 p.m. EST on Friday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. And delivery of the $250 million wastewater recycling gear is among the mission’s primary goals.

Pending no technical issues, NASA managers told the launch team on Friday morning to fuel the shuttle for liftoff, a three-hour operation to pump 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the spaceship's tank for the 8.5-minute climb into orbit.

Without any hitches, the shuttle should arrive at the space station on Sunday so astronauts could begin 11 to 12 days of home improvements.

Endeavour will also be carrying two small bedrooms, the station's first refrigerator, new exercise gear, and perhaps most important for a growing crew - a second toilet.

"With six people you really do need to have a two-bathroom house. It's a lot more convenient and a lot more efficient," said Endeavour astronaut Sandra Magnus, who will take over as a space station flight engineer from Greg Chamitoff, who’s been aboard the outpost since June.

NASA wants to make sure the water recycling system is working well before adding another three astronauts to the station's crew.

Would you drink your own urine if it had been recycled like this?

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ianivs

at 11:44 on November 14th, 2008

Why not? The water is safe to drink. And if you think about it, after you flush the toilet your urine (and everyone else's) eventually goes back into your drinking water. Nature does it for you and the astronauts need to do it artificially.

AlexShot

at 13:34 on November 14th, 2008

well if they can... why not ? Is it possible ?

6oma

at 14:18 on November 14th, 2008

thanks

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Vinny

at 14:34 on November 14th, 2008

I don't think I would have a problem with this, as I read this I am drinking some really cheap lager that looks and tastes like it anyway!

reno_fog

at 14:41 on November 14th, 2008

Maybe this is a technology that can help on earth in the future...

uk_shutterbug

at 15:09 on November 14th, 2008

Interesting article, I was happy to contribute a photo for this story. I say If the technology is there, then it should be used.

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Paschen

at 20:00 on November 14th, 2008

I am actually surprised they do not do it all ready. I would have assumed this to be practised for some time now.

deb in Phoenix Az.

at 10:12 on November 16th, 2008

Actually many people have done this to save their own lives from

parched conditions. Bishop Pike comes to mind, a rather infamous case

wherein he was visiting the desert of Israel years ago, became disorientated and lost and his wife reports they survived quite a while

by drinking their urine. You use what is at your disposal in life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pike

hussain

at 21:17 on November 14th, 2008

Yes, Paschen is right. Many people including myself already believed (understood) they (astronauts) do so.

adiiiems

at 23:35 on November 14th, 2008

glass_of_ice_water.jpg
File type: JPG picture file
File size: 69 kB
by directx
http://peperonity.com/go/profile/3/directx;jsessionid=9D1AABAF5EF275444934DBE6FD1153DF.c04

adiiiems has contributed a photo to this story.

Cheghy

at 00:58 on November 15th, 2008

Cheghy has contributed a photo to this story.

Cheghy

at 01:03 on November 15th, 2008

Sounds great, Cheeers!

Amitjha

at 03:57 on November 15th, 2008

Prolem lies not in use of human waste, the real issue is is it economically feasible ? we have alredy polluuted almost all natural source of water, and continiously doing so by excessive use of fertilisr and pesticide along with industrial waste.

All we need to do is be natural and do not spoil nature.

thesanescientist

at 05:41 on November 16th, 2008

I suppose it is not such a bad idea since there are not many ways of obtaining water in space. I might personally have a hard time drinking it knowing that it was my (or my coworkers) pee. Although I suppose it happens in nature anyway. Interesting story.

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