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NASA Cancels Spacewalk at International Space Station Due to Water Leak in Spacesuit, While Scientists Design Spacesuit That Can Turn Urine into Drinking Water

2024-07-12 05:01:38.202000

NASA has canceled a planned spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS) due to a water leak in a spacesuit. Tracy C. Dyson, a NASA astronaut, discovered water pouring out of her suit and covering her visor with ice just moments after converting her suit to battery power. The leak was caused by a secret cooling unit attached to her suit. Dyson was able to plug the leak and get out of her suit in 45 minutes. This is the second time NASA has had to cancel a spacewalk mission this month due to spacesuit issues. Another spacewalk, scheduled for July 2, is uncertain at this time. In 2019, the first all-female spacewalk was postponed due to a spacesuit fit issue, and in 2022, spacewalks were suspended after water was found in an astronaut's helmet. NASA has not provided further details about the discomfort problem. The agency confirmed that all crew members on the ISS are healthy and spacesuits are functioning as expected.

According to an article from The Guardian, scientists from Cornell University have designed a prototype spacesuit that can recycle urine into drinking water. The suit, inspired by the 'stillsuits' in the sci-fi classic Dune, collects urine, purifies it, and can return it to the astronaut through a drinking tube within five minutes. The design includes a vacuum-based external catheter leading to a combined forward-reverse osmosis unit, providing a continuous supply of potable water. The creators hope to deploy the suit before the end of the decade in NASA's Artemis program. The current waste management solution, the maximum absorbency garment (MAG), is leak-prone and uncomfortable. The proposed stillsuit system comprises a collection cup of molded silicone, within an undergarment made of multiple layers of flexible fabric. The system measures 38cm by 23cm by 23cm and weighs approximately 8kg. The team plans to recruit 100 volunteers in New York to test the system for comfort and functionality.

This new water-recycling spacesuit technology could potentially be built into new versions of spacesuits for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions to the moon.

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