NASA is testing an unusual system capable of turning astronauts’ wastewater into useful resources, such as water, fertilizers and 3D printing materials.
The technology is being developed for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The main idea is that it is costly to constantly deliver water, food and other necessities from Earth, so astronauts will need to learn to use their own resources in a literal closed loop.
The system is currently undergoing tests in a special complex that imitates space-base conditions. In this setup, waste is recycled into plant fertilizers, while processed water is returned to the cycle for reuse.
The unit includes several bioreactors, a water cleaning system and a vertical hydroponic garden. With its help, food waste is processed into fertilizers and liquid waste and used water are purified to become drinking water again.
However, these are not the only capabilities of the system. Researchers are also looking into ways of producing lactic acid from bodily waste, which can then be used for bioplastic production used in 3D printing. In the future, this development may allow parts to be created for equipment repairs or even elements of future space bases on-site.
If the technology proves effective, future settlers will be able to grow part of their own harvest and reduce their dependence on cargo missions from Earth.
NASA believes such systems will become a crucial part of the Artemis program, including long-term human presence on the Moon.
The Artemis II Mission kicked off on April 1 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The four-astronaut crew embarked on a 10-day flight with a lunar flyby, marking the first such mission since 1972.
