NASA recycles urine and sweat of crew on ISS space station 98%

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have just achieved a 98% recovery rate by … effectively recycling their urine. This is a groundbreaking milestone in efforts to recycle water in space.

ECLSS Chief Executive Jill Williamson said the crew drank the water that was captured, filtered and cleaned. This water is cleaner than the water we drink on Earth. He asserted once again, the crew did not drink urine.

For many years, scientists have been trying to find a way to provide the basic needs of astronauts without the need for resupply. To do this, they find ways to recycle or produce necessities in space such as food, water or air.

According to NASA documents, on average each astronaut on the ISS station consumes about 2.5-3 liters of water per day for direct drinking, to moisten food or for personal hygiene.

With a successful recycling rate of up to 98%, the crew will have a longer stay on the station to continue their research.

This is an important step in the process of revolutionizing life support systems, said Christopher Brown, executive director of life support systems on the ISS. 98% of the water carried by astronauts into space will be rotated forever.

The scientists are highly successful thanks to the Environmental Regulatory and Life Support System (ECLSS), which includes a Wastewater Recovery System, and a dehumidifier that can capture moisture generated by the crew's breath and perspiration in the air.

The collected water will be sent to the treatment system and then converted into drinking water. ECLSS is fitted with a saltwater filter for thorough urine recycling.

ECLSS finished water is added with iodine to ensure that microorganisms cannot grow in the water. This water is of a much higher quality than the water we drink on Earth.

Jessica Tanner

Update 24 July 2023