Cornell researchers design spacesuit turning urine into water

Space-related technologies are constantly evolving. Space agencies, led by NASA, are doing everything to enable trained astronauts to explore the universe. Space flights are becoming increasingly popular, and private companies also want to send people to places no one has been before. Scientists, on the other hand, are striving to improve rockets, satellites, and spacesuits.

Researchers from Cornell University drew inspiration from the "Dune" movies and books. They have created a spacesuit that closely resembles "stillsuits". This innovative creation can convert urine into drinking water in just five minutes. Currently, a prototype exists, but scientists hope that a fully functional spacesuit will be ready for the NASA Artemis program by 2030. This creation is expected to be very useful to astronauts during long spacewalks on the upcoming moon expedition. The prototype is designed to collect urine, purify it, and provide it to the astronaut through a drinking tube. The entire process is expected to take about five minutes.

Sofia Etlin, a researcher from Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University and co-designer of the spacesuit, said in an interview with "The Guardian": "The project includes an external vacuum-based catheter leading to a reverse osmosis and direct unit, providing a continuous supply of drinking water with many safety mechanisms to ensure the astronaut's well-being. Astronauts have only about a litre of water in their drinking bags within their suits. This is inadequate for the planned longer spacewalks on the Moon, which can last 10 and up to 24 hours in emergencies."

Professor Christopher Mason from Weill Cornell Medicine, the lead author of the study, added: "Even in the absence of a large desert planet, as in Dune, this could be better for astronauts. Our system can be tested in simulated microgravity conditions because microgravity is the main space factor we must consider."

The modern spacesuit system has a silicone cup-shaped to fit both male and female anatomy. It is placed in underwear made of multiple layers of elastic fabric. The cup connects to a moisture-activated vacuum pump that automatically turns on when the astronaut starts to urinate. When collected by the vacuum pump, urine is transported to the filtration system, where it is processed into water with an efficiency of 87%. The filtration process uses osmosis to separate the water from the urine, along with a pump that separates the salt.

The purified water is enriched with electrolytes, allowing the astronaut to drink energy from their urine. The dimensions of the entire system are about 38 cm by 23 cm by 23 cm. The modern solution weighs about 8 kg. The team of scientists plans to find and hire 100 volunteers in New York, who will undertake tests of the spacesuit of the future. Professor Christopher Mason adds: "These tests will ensure the functionality and safety of the system before its implementation in real space missions."