Here's How NASA Recycles 98% of Astronauts' Urine, Sweat Into Drinkable Water

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have made a groundbreaking accomplishment by reaching a 98% water recovery rate through a method that might make some people slightly uncomfortable.

They have successfully maximized the recycling of astronaut urine.

The achievement was made possible using the Environment Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) subsystems, NASA reported in a statement. 

ECLSS is a combination of hardware that includes a Water Recovery System. This system collects wastewater and sends it to the Water Processor Assembly (WPA), which produces drinkable water. One specialized component uses advanced dehumidifiers to capture moisture released into the cabin air from crew breath and sweat. 

According to NASA, every crewmember relies on approximately one gallon of water daily for various essential purposes, including drinking, food preparation and hygiene, such as brushing teeth. 

The ultimate target concerning water management during extended missions has been to achieve an impressive 98% recovery rate, which means that 98% of the water initially brought into space by the crews is successfully recycled and reused.

"This is a very important step forward in the evolution of life support systems. Let's say you launch with 100 pounds of water. You lose 2 pounds of that, and the other 98% keeps going around. Keeping that running is a pretty awesome achievement," Christopher Brown, who is part of the team at Johnson Space Center that manages life support systems on the ISS, said in the statement. 

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"Before the Brine Processor Assembly (BPA), our total water recovery was between 93 and 94% overall," ECLSS water subsystems manager Jill Williamson said in the statement. "We have now demonstrated that we can reach [a] total water recovery of 98%, thanks to the brine processor."

So if you are assuming astronauts consume urine in space, the answer is a resounding no. The team emphasized the water produced aboard the International Space Station (ISS) surpassed the water quality generated by municipal systems here on Earth.

"The processing is fundamentally similar to some terrestrial water distribution systems, just done in microgravity," Williamson added. "The crew is not drinking urine; they are drinking water that has been reclaimed, filtered, and cleaned such that it is cleaner than what we drink here on Earth."

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Photo: International Space Station courtesy of NASA