Spacesuit With a Dune-Like Quality Converts Urine into Potable Water
Chillin' with the Future: The 'Dune'-Inspired Space Pee Suit for Longer Galactic Adventures
Get ready for some interstellar magic, peeps! Scientists at Cornell University are days away from making science fiction a reality. In an intriguing new study, they've designed a badass spacesuit that transforms urine into fresh H2O, straight outta Dune and the Fremen's stillsuits. This space-savvy ensemble could revolutionize astronaut's spacewalk experiences, not to mention extend their ventures into the cosmos.
Never heard of recycled pee-water? NASA's already doing the same thing on the ISS, where 98% of urine and sweat is reused, up from the 93% previously achieved. Gross, yes, but it's a vital trick for saving the limited resources a space crew has.
But here's the catch: while in space, astronauts have to rely on diapers for the bathroom breaks during spacewalks. Not ideal, right? Well, these diapers can leak, and the exposure to waste can lead to unwanted complications, including UTIs. Solution: Astronauts can cut down on their fluid intake, which can be dangerous and limits the length of a spacewalk. Yikes!
Inspired by the work of Dune author Frank Herbert, the Cornell-Weill Cornell Medicine team developed a prototype suit, detailed in a paper published in Frontiers in Space Technology. The suit comes equipped with a catheter and a forward-reverse osmosis unit that filters urine in mere minutes, giving astronauts a comfort boost on longer spacewalks.
"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 wellbeing," lead author, Sofia Etlin, stated.
The portable system filters out 500 milliliters of urine in about five minutes, with different collection methods for both women and men. Although it's not as efficient as the ISS's recycling system with an 87% recycling rate, it'll definitely make those extra minutes in the cosmos a lot comfier.
With NASA planning to send astronauts back to the Moon within the next few years and to Mars as early as the 2030s, this pee-powered suit has all the right credentials to make an appearance. The Cornell team believes that their suit could be mission-ready by the time Artemis is blasting off. But remember, astronauts will have to undergo extensive testing before giving this suit the space thumbs-up.
If this is what scientists come up with, can we please get a spacesuit that can quickly crunch complex math problems like the Mentats from Dune? #SpaceMathMagic #AstroBillPayDay
- The Cornell-Weill Cornell Medicine team, inspired by Frank Herbert's work in Dune, announced a potential breakthrough in space technology, revealing a prototype suit that recycles astronaut urine into freshwater during spacewalks.
- While the International Space Station's recycling system already reuses 98% of urine and sweat, the new suit aims to enhance comfort during extended spacewalks by filtering urine within minutes.
- The forward-reverse osmosis unit in the suit, designed with separate collection methods for men and women, could revolutionize future space missions, especially those planned for the Moon and Mars.
- With Artemis missions scheduled for the near future, the team believes their suit, designed with multiple safety mechanisms, could be mission-ready and help astronauts conquer the challenges of space travel more comfortably.
