A groundbreaking spacesuit, inspired by the “stillsuits” from the science fiction film Dune, has the potential to revolutionize astronaut capabilities during spacewalks on future lunar missions by recycling urine into drinking water, according to a report by The Guardian.
This innovative prototype, developed by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University under the leadership of Sofia Etlin, collects urine, purifies it, and returns it to the astronaut through a drinking tube within five minutes. The suit aims to support astronauts on extended missions as part of NASA’s Artemis program, which plans to land astronauts on the lunar south pole by 2026 and send humans to Mars by 2030.
The suit incorporates advanced technology, featuring a vacuum-based external catheter and a combined forward-reverse osmosis unit, ensuring a continuous supply of purified water directly to the astronaut within five minutes of collection. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of limited water supply during prolonged lunar spacewalks, which can last up to 24 hours in emergencies.
“Astronauts currently have only one litre of water available in their in-suit drink bags,” said Sofia Etlin, a researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University and co-designer of the suit. “This is insufficient for the planned longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last 10 hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency.”
Current solutions, such as the maximum absorbency garment (MAG), have been criticized for their discomfort and leakage issues, prompting the need for more efficient waste management systems in space.
The compact and lightweight design of the system, weighing approximately 8kg and measuring 38cm by 23cm by 23cm, is suitable for integration into spacesuits, providing essential hydration and comfort during missions. Researchers plan to conduct extensive tests with volunteers in New York to validate the system’s functionality and safety under simulated microgravity conditions before its deployment in actual space missions.
