When science fiction becomes reality! Dune-inspired spacesuit transforms astronaut urine into drinking water in minutes

By William On Jul 12, 2024

The idea of drinking your own urine may sound like a Bear Grylls survival technique.

But for astronauts, it could soon become a reality, thanks to a new spacesuit inspired by Dune.

The spacesuit is the brainchild of researchers at Cornell University and features a futuristic device that can recycle urine into drinking water.

Although the suit is still a prototype, it could be a solution for astronauts, who currently have to relieve themselves in their spacesuits during long spacewalks.

“The design includes a vacuum-based external catheter leading to a combined forward and reverse osmosis unit, which provides a continuous supply of drinking water with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure the astronauts’ well-being,” said Sofia Etlin, first author of the study.

The idea of drinking your own urine may sound like a survival technique promoted by Bear Grylls. But it could soon become a reality for astronauts, thanks to a new Dune-inspired spacesuit

The researchers turned to the Dune franchise, which features full-body “stillsuits” that can absorb and purify water lost through sweating and urination

How does it work?

The device consists of flexible underwear and is connected to a silicone collection cup that fits around the genitals.
The inside of the collection cup is lined with a polyester microfiber and drains urine away from the body.
An RFID tag, coupled with an absorbent hydrogel, responds to moisture by activating a vacuum pump, which quickly sucks up the urine.
After the urine is collected, it is passed to a filter system, which removes the water from the urine.
The purified water is then enriched with electrolytes and pumped into a hydration bladder in the suit for astronauts to drink from.

Aboard the International Space Station, astronauts can urinate by strapping themselves to a toilet with a suction system.

There their urine can also be collected and recycled into drinking water.

However, during long spacewalks, astronauts are currently forced to wear large diapers, called maximum absorbency garments (MAGs).

This is not only uncomfortable, but also a waste of time, because the urine cannot be reused.

“There has been reported leakage of the MAG, which has caused health problems such as urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal complaints,” said Dr. Etlin.

In addition, astronauts currently only have one liter of water available in the hydration bladders in their suits.

“This is insufficient for the planned, long-term spacewalks on the moon, which can last ten hours and in emergencies even 24 hours.”

Hoping to address this problem, researchers turned to the Dune franchise, which features full-body “stillsuits” that can absorb and purify moisture lost through sweating and urination.

Inspired by these still suits, the researchers designed a device to collect urine.

The device consists of a flexible underwear and is connected to a silicone collection cup that fits around the genitals

Despite being quite complex, the system measures just 38 x 23 x 23 cm and weighs around 8 kg, making it the ideal size to fit in a backpack

The device consists of flexible underwear and is connected to a silicone collection cup that fits around the genitals.

The inside of the collection cup is lined with a polyester microfiber and drains urine away from the body.

An RFID tag, coupled with an absorbent hydrogel, responds to moisture by activating a vacuum pump, which quickly sucks up the urine.

After the urine is collected, it is passed to a filter system, which removes the water from the urine.

The purified water is then enriched with electrolytes and pumped into a hydration bladder in the suit for astronauts to drink from.

Now that the prototype (pictured) is ready, the researchers hope to test it with real astronauts soon

According to the team, collecting and purifying 500 ml of urine takes only five minutes.

Although the system is quite complex, it is only 38 x 23 x 23 cm in size and weighs around 8 kg. So it is the ideal size to put in a backpack.

Now that the prototype is ready, the researchers hope to test it with real astronauts soon.

Dr Christopher Mason, lead author of the study, said: ‘Our system can be tested in simulated microgravity conditions, as microgravity is the most important spatial factor we need to take into account.

‘These tests must ensure the functionality and safety of the system before it is actually deployed in space.’

HOW DO ASTRONAUTS GO TO THE TOILET?

On board the ISS there is a toilet with various facilities.

Because there is no gravity in space, liquids do not flow, but collect in floating globules.

To counteract this problem, tubes are used that apply pressure to suck the fluid out of the body.

Each astronaut has his own personal attachment.

If there is no toilet available or if the astronaut is on a spacewalk, the astronauts use MAGs (maximum absorbency garments). These are diapers that absorb all waste.

They are effective for short missions, but can sometimes leak.

NASA wants to develop a suit that will allow long-term use in a spacesuit and that can dispose of human waste completely independently.

During the lunar missions there was no toilet and the all-male crew had condom catheters that were attached to the penis. The fluid was poured into a bag outside the suit.

According to a 1976 interview with astronaut Rusty Schweickart, the condom catheters came in three sizes: small, medium, and large.

Despite the practical advantages of correct sizing, astronauts often ordered the largest size, resulting in urine leaking into the suit.

To counter this, NASA renamed the dimensions to large, gigantic, and colossal to appease the male ego.

An effective female equivalent has not yet been developed, something NASA wants to change for the Orion missions.