Dune inspired spacesuit creates water from urine
Researchers from Cornell University have designed a novel urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits, inspired by the concept of "stillsuits" from the Dune franchise, to recycle urine into drinkable water for astronauts on spacewalks.
The new system addresses the discomfort, hygiene issues, and water limitations associated with the existing waste management system in traditional NASA spacesuits, providing a more efficient and comfortable solution for future moon and Mars missions.
The prototype system, compact and lightweight enough to be worn as a backpack on a spacesuit, is set to undergo testing under simulated microgravity conditions before potential deployment in actual space missions, marking a significant advancement in astronaut hygiene and mission efficiency.
"Astronauts currently have only one litre of water available in their in-suit drink bags. This is insufficient for the planned, longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last ten hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency."
During spacewalks, astronauts have the unpleasant and unsanitary task of relieving themselves within their suits. This also represents a waste of water, as unlike wastewater on the International Space Station (ISS), urine from spacewalks is not currently recycled.
Inspired by the fictional stillsuits in Dune, researchers are developing a solution: a prototype urine collection and filtration system for spacesuits. This system would capture and purify water lost through sweat and urination, recycling it into potable water for astronauts. With this innovation, science fiction is taking a step towards becoming reality.
The design is intended for upcoming moon and Mars missions and is compact and lightweight enough to be worn as a backpack on a spacesuit. The system will undergo testing in simulated and real spacewalk conditions before potential deployment in actual space missions.
Sofia Etlin, a research staff member at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University in the US said, "The design includes a vacuum-based external catheter leading to a combined forward-reverse osmosis unit, providing a continuous supply of potable water with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure astronaut well-being."
The design, by researchers from Cornell University, is published in Frontiers in Space Technology.
