Recycled urine proves a hit for NASA
In one of the more bizarre recycling projects it has been revealed that NASA has produced a recycled water system for the International Space Station which recycles urine, sweat and condensed water from exhaled air. After a number of technical issues with the system, it was flown to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Endeavour and tested to ensure that it was working correctly and everything was safe.
After a number of valves were replaced and checked, the system was switched on and astronauts in space were able to toast the success of the operation, using recycled water, with their colleagues on earth. This system will allow future outposts on the likes of the Moon and Mars to recycle and reuse their own water, no matter what the source. It is probably one of the more amazing recycling programs ever seen on Earth and one which is sure to make a big difference to space travel in the future.
Like so many other systems which have been developed for use in space, we will no doubt see the technology behind the water recycling system used time and time again on earth now that it has been proven to work in the most unhelpful of climates.