Author Topic: "Tastes fine to me.."  (Read 925 times)

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MrAngryFace

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"Tastes fine to me.."
« on: November 16, 2008, 04:13:42 PM »
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3461488/NASA-astronauts-to-drink-their-own-urine.html

Quote
NASA astronauts to drink their own urine
As NASA prepared to double the number of astronauts living aboard the International Space Station, nothing did more for crew bonding than a machine being launched aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on Friday.
 
Last Updated: 1:26AM GMT 15 Nov 2008

It's a water-recycling device that will process the crew's urine for communal consumption.

"We did blind taste tests of the water," said NASA's Bob Bagdigian, the system's lead engineer. "Nobody had any strong objections. Other than a faint taste of iodine, it is just as refreshing as any other kind of water."

"I've got some in my fridge," he added. "It tastes fine to me."

Delivery of the $250 million wastewater recycling gear is among the primary goals of NASA's 124th shuttle mission, which was due to launch at 7.55pm EST on Friday (0055 GMT on Saturday) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With no technical issues, NASA managers told the launch team on Friday morning to fuel the shuttle for lift-off, a three-hour operation to pump 500,000 gallons (1.9 million litres) of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the spaceship's tank for the 8.5-minute climb into orbit.

If the shuttle lifts off on time, it would arrive at the space station on Sunday so astronauts could begin 11 to 12 days of home improvements.

In addition to the water recycler, Endeavour carries two small bedrooms, the station's first refrigerator, new exercise gear, and perhaps most important for a growing crew – a second lavatory.

"With six people you really do need to have a two-bathroom house. It's a lot more convenient and a lot more efficient," said Endeavour astronaut Sandra Magnus, who will take over as a space station flight engineer from Greg Chamitoff.

Mr Chamitoff has been aboard the outpost since the last shuttle flight in June.

NASA wants to make sure the water recycling system is working well before adding another three astronauts to the station's crew.

Reusing water will become essential once NASA retires its space shuttles, which produce water as a by-product of their electrical systems. Rather than dumping the water overboard, NASA has been transferring it to the space station.

But the shuttle's days are numbered. Only 10 flights remain, including a final servicing call to the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA is preparing to end the program in 2010, after which Russian Soyuz spacecraft will be the only way to ferry crew to the space station.

"We can't be delivering water all the time for six crew," said space station flight director Ron Spencer. "Recycling is a must."

NASA expects to process about six gallons (23 litres) of water per day with the new device. The goal is to recover about 92 per cent of the water from the crew's urine and moisture in the air.

The wastewater is processed using an extensive series of purification techniques, including distillation – which is somewhat tricky in microgravity – filtration, oxidation, and ionization.

The final step is the addition of iodine to control microbial growth, Mr Bagdigian said.

The device is intended to process a full day's worth of wastewater in less than 24 hours.

"Today's drinking water was yesterday's waste," Mr Bagdigian added.

o_0

drew

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2008, 04:16:25 PM »
 :-X

Tieno

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2008, 04:28:25 PM »
 :drool
i

Howard Alan Treesong

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2008, 04:35:36 PM »
stillsuit a go go
乱学者

Bildi

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2008, 04:38:42 PM »
250 million dollar machine?  Just piss in your mouths you pansies.

Or each others. :drool

TVC15

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2008, 04:41:58 PM »
Maybe this means that I may live long enough to achieve my dream of becoming Baron Harkonnen.
serge

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2008, 05:39:05 PM »
tastes fine to me! :drool
うぐう

xnikki118x

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2008, 05:56:32 PM »
Haha oh wow.

I used to wanna be an astronaut when I grew up. I gave up that dream a long time ago, but this sealed the deal for me. :lol
:-*

Great Rumbler

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2008, 06:16:03 PM »
First you have to wear a diaper and eat freeze-dried ice cream and now they make you drink pee? Whatever, I'm staying on Earth.
dog

E-DuB

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2008, 06:22:05 PM »
250 million dollar machine?  Just piss in your mouths you pansies.

Or each others. :drool

Zero G smut films....Now THAT'S an idea :hyper :hyper :hyper

Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #10 on: November 16, 2008, 08:14:44 PM »
what if you urinate, then unbeknownst to you you shit out just a tiny bit of watery poop
Crm

Tauntaun

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2008, 08:58:52 PM »
 :yuck

spoiler (click to show/hide)
:drool
[close]
:)

duckman2000

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2008, 09:13:17 PM »
Personally, I can't wait for the upcoming infomercial showing off a miraculous new home water filtration system made possible with NASA technology and Swedish craftsmanship.



Joe Molotov

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Re: "Tastes fine to me.."
« Reply #13 on: November 16, 2008, 09:23:59 PM »
250 million dollar machine?  Just piss in your mouths you pansies.

Or each others. :drool

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