A groundbreaking space suit inspired by the “stillsuit” from sci-fi film Dune could revolutionize astronauts’ capabilities during spacewalks on future lunar missions by recycling urine into drinking water, The Guardian reports.
The prototype can collect urine, purify it and return it to astronauts via a drinking tube within five minutes, and is intended to support astronauts on long-term missions under NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the moon’s south pole by 2026 and ultimately send humans to Mars by 2030.
Developed by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University, led by Sophia Etlin, the suit incorporates advanced technology including a vacuum-operated external catheter and combined forward and reverse osmosis unit to continuously provide purified water to astronauts directly through the drinking tube within five minutes of collection.
The effort addresses critical challenges faced by astronauts, including limited water supplies during long lunar spacewalks, which can last up to 24 hours in the event of an emergency.
“Currently, astronauts only carry one liter of water in a drink bag inside their spacesuit,” Sophia Etlin, a researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-designer of the spacesuit, told The Guardian.
“This is not enough for the longer planned lunar spacewalk, which could last 10 hours, or up to 24 hours in an emergency,” Etlin added.
Current solutions, such as Maximum Absorbent Garments (MAGs), have been criticized for their discomfort and leakage issues, increasing the need for more efficient waste management systems in space.
The system’s compact and lightweight design, weighing approximately 8kg and measuring 38cm x 23cm x 23cm, makes it suitable for integration into a spacesuit, providing essential hydration and comfort during the mission. Researchers will conduct extensive testing with volunteers in New York to validate the functionality and safety of the system under simulated microgravity conditions, prior to deployment on an actual space mission.
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First uploaded on: 13 July 2024 22:52 IST
