Getting water and fuel to spacecrafts in orbit can get pretty expensive, but a new process could scale that down — simply by recycling urine.
Yes, urine. The idea of drinking water that was once pee sounds pretty gross, but the science behind it could provide a more affordable way to not only hydrate astronauts but also fuel spaceships. (Via CBS)
As a writer for Science puts it: "In Space, Pee is for Power."
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station already recycle wastewater to recover about 75 percent of water through distillation. The process removes the nitrogen-rich compound urea. Scientists from the University of Puerto Rico say that compound can be transformed into ammonia that fills a fuel cell and emits power, through a process involving osmosis and a bioreactor. (Via ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering)
The team says current tests have generated only a small amount of power, but they hope to increase that amount in subsequent tests.
Not everyone thinks it's a great idea. A NASA wastewater systems engineer tells Science, "This sounds like a clever process, but I'm skeptical about whether it will work at a larger scale or in the uncontrolled environment of space."
If it is successful, the development could support long-term missions in space, especially to areas outside Earth's orbit, such as Mars, where it's more difficult to deliver supplies. (Via NASA)
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