Astronauts will drink purified urine
May 21, 2009 – 7:00 pm
The crew of the ISS for the first time used water obtained using a new system of cleaning urine and fumes. This was reported in a press release issued at the site of NASA.
“inauguration” of the system was in a solemn atmosphere. Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, American astronaut Michael Barrat and Japanese astronaut Koichi Vakata raised the toast to the new system, “which will open the path of humanity to the Moon and other planets”.
This event was preceded by many months of testing the water quality produced by the system, reports Lenta.ru. In total, in order to study the Earth was delivered about 20 liters of fluid. Her careful analysis revealed that the level of impurities is much less than the permissible norm. The goal is that while the crew of the system will monitor water quality using the equipment on board, and regularly send the samples to Earth.
cleaning system was delivered to the station in November 2008 year on board the shuttle “Endeavor” (Endeavour). From the very beginning of a new system cost $250 million chased trouble. Staff refused to work scheduled hours and worked only two. To overcome this difficulty, the astronauts to reinstall the main centrifuge device.
The new system is designed to process urine and fumes in the drinking water. This is done to ensure future water supply crew for the ISS, which will consist of six people already. Currently, stations are three people.
