ISS astronauts mimic nature to turn urine into drinking water
Recycling water is key for astronauts on the International Space Station since sending water to the crew is heavy and expensive. The current systems work well and the tech is being used here on Earth in places where clean drinking water is in short supply. In an effort to increase efficiency, astronauts will test a new filtration system from Aquaporin Space Alliance. The so-called AquaMembrane employs nanotechnology and proteins to transform waste water (sweat and urine) into clean drinking water, proteins that regulate water in living things like human kidneys and bamboo shoots. Those aquaporin proteins are situated on a membrane and as water passes through tiny protein tubes, an electrostatic charge stops things like salt from getting through. The water flows continuously from side to side without using extra energy thanks to forward osmosis.
Aquamembrane setup for the upcoming test.
What's more, the process happens on a molecular level, so the AquaMembrane doesn't clog up as often as the gear that's currently being used. European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen will use collected samples with the membrane kits aboard the ISS and bring samples back to Earth for testing. If the new system works, it could provide a smaller and lighter solution for water filtration both in space and in remote areas where clean water is scarce.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images, Aquaporin Space Alliance]
