Astronauts on long-duration missions rely on water (H2O) for drinking, hygiene, food preparation, and oxygen generation by electrolysis. In a closed spacecraft, astronauts can lose 2 liters of water per day.
Beyond hydration, water functions in temperature control, waste management and other support systems. Astronauts use sealed containers and specialized dispensing techniques to manage water and prevent waste.
Recycling Water
Every drop counts. NASA and other space agencies invest heavily in sophisticated systems to reclaim water from on-board activities.
Urine Processing Assemblies (UPAs)
Astronauts' urine is recycled into potable water using vapor compression distillation. This process boils the urine and separates water vapor from contaminants.
It then condenses pure water. The water is cleaner than most municipal water supplies on Earth.
Humidity Condensation
The air inside spacecraft is humid due to normal bodily functions like breathing and sweating. Condensation systems collect the humidity through absorption and purify it into drinking water.
Hygiene and Waste Water Recycling
Wastewater from hygiene processes like showers and handwashing is captured. Along with water from the UPAs and humidity control systems, it's then treated with filtration, oxidation and sterilization.
The closed-loop system dramatically reduces the amount of water that needs to be transported from Earth. This makes long-duration missions like those planned for Mars much more viable.
The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) aboard the International Space Station (ISS) can recycle about 93% of water used on board. This reduces the need for resupply missions from Earth.
The Water Recovery System onboard the ISS converts waste products back into usable water. Over time, the WRS has become more sophisticated, increasing the quality of water produced.
Generating Water
Fuel Cell Byproduct
In space oxygen is often generated by electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The byproducts can be recombined to generate water again, creating a sustainable cycle of production and use.
The International Space Station (ISS) uses solar panels. When it's in Earth's shadow, it switches to fuel cells. They use hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity, with water as a byproduct.
A fuel cell can yield 0.6 liters of water per hour. The water is purified for consumption.
Sabatier Reactor
For future long missions, scientists explore use of Sabatier reactors. These merge hydrogen and CO2 to make methane and water. Methane can be vented into space or used as a propellant, while the water is refined.
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