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Mahesh

13/07/24 09:21 AM IST

Scientists design a spacesuit that can turn urine into drinking water

In News
  • Scientists have designed a spacesuit that can recycle urine into drinking water to help astronauts execute lengthy spacewalks.
Current Spacesuits
  • The current spacesuits comprise bags which can handle only up to one litre of water.
  • This limits astronauts from going on longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last 10 hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency.
  • Astronauts also have issues with the maximum absorbency garment (MAG) — a waste management system which has been in use in spacesuits since the 1970s.
  • There have been complaints about a lack of comfort and hygiene. Some have complained about contracting urinary tract infections (UTIs) because of MAG, which is essentially an adult diaper.
New Spacesuit
  • The prototype comprises a collection cup (with a different shape and size for women and men) of moulded silicone, to fit around the genitalia.
  • To ensure that there is no leak, the cup is contained within an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric.
  • The cup is linked to a vacuum pump that automatically switches on as soon as the astronaut begins to urinate.
  • Once collected, the urine is diverted to the filtration system where it gets recycled into water with an efficiency of 87%.
  • The filtration of urine is a two step process.
  • First, water is removed from the urine through a reverse osmosis — a process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from other substances — system.
  • Then, salt is removed from this water by using a pump. Before the purified water is pumped into the in-suit drink bag for consumption, it is enriched in electrolytes as well.
  • The whole process of collecting and purifying 500 ml of urine takes only five minutes, according to the creators of the new spacesuit.
  • The system weighs around 8 kg, and measures 38cm by 23cm by 23cm, which experts suggest is compact and light to carry on the back of a spacesuit.
Source- Indian Express

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