New Delhi:
If you have to stay without water one day, how would it feel? Now just guess, how would it be like to live without fresh water for 9 months? India’s daughter Sunita Williams and her partner Buch Williams Butch Wilmore in Space spent 286 days without fresh water in space at the International Space Station. But … the question is that when there is no waterfall in space, nor any river, and sending water from the earth is also difficult and expensive. So how did these people stay alive for so many months? Did he really drank urin, urine, urine? Let us tell you about this technology in detail!
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- What is life in space?
- Where does the air come from to breathe there?
- How does food cook?
- The biggest thing is where the water comes from?
Today we will tell you how the scientists of NASA prepared such technology to recycle water, which gives back 98% water in space.
Difficulties of water in space
On the earth, we can open fresh water whenever we want, but the situation is very different in space. There is no river, lake, or rain. Millions of rupees are spent to send every liter of water from the earth. During the long mission, astronauts have to recycle water to stay alive. The NASA experts created a system to solve this problem that turns urine, sweat and breathing moisture into drinking water again.
How is the recycling of water?
98% of the water is used back at the space station with the help of Environment Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) created by NASA. Many technology work together in this.
Water recovery system (WRS)
This system catchs the sweat and breath moisture of astronauts. It is then cleaned through filter and chemical processing. This water is used again to eat, drink and clean teeth.
Urin Processor Assembly (UPA)
This is the system that converts urine into water. It uses vacuum distillation technology, which is separated in water and solid residue (brine).
Brine Processor Assembly (BPA)
This system removes the remaining water from the brine, so that the recycling rate can reach 98%. Membrane technology and hot air are used for this.
Water Processor Assembly (WPA)
Finally, all the collected water goes to this system. Here it is completely cleaned through filtration, chemical treatment and Catalatic reactor. NASA claims that this water is more pure than the water found on the earth.
Is this water safe?
Now the question arises whether this water is drinkable? NASA experts say that this process is more advanced than many water treatment plants of the earth. Each drop is 100% clean and purified. Many layers are filtered, so that no harmful chemical or bacteria are saved. Not only this, iodine is added before keeping this water in storage, so that bacteria do not flourish in it. Scientists of NASA say that “crew members are not drinking urine, but they are drinking absolutely pure and treated water, which is more clear than the water of the earth.
Future preparation
This technology will not be limited to the International Space Station (ISS). The same technology will be used for the upcoming moon and Mars mission. NASA wants 100% water recycle in upcoming space missions. With this, astronauts will be able to survive for months without asking for supply from the earth. So how did Sunita Williams and his companions live for 9 months without fresh water? The answer is- Technology, Science and Research! This system of NASA has proved that in future a person can stay in space for a long time without getting supplies from the earth.
