A high tech space suit is being developed to allow astronauts to drink their own urine. 

Astronauts on spacewalks face many challenges, including the need to relieve themselves in their suits. 

Researchers from Cornell University have developed a new urine collection and recycling system inspired by the fictional ‘stillsuits’ from the Dune sci-fi series, which could greatly enhance the efficiency and comfort of space missions.

The prototype includes a silicone collection cup that fits around the genitalia and is lined with an absorbent material. 

A vacuum pump collects the urine and passes it through a filtration system that extracts the water. This water is then enriched with electrolytes and stored in the suit's drinking container. 

The system is capable of processing 500ml of urine in just 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 with multiple safety mechanisms to ensure astronaut wellbeing,” said Sofia Etlin, a research staff member at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University, and the study’s first author.

NASA's upcoming Artemis II and III missions, set for 2025 and 2026, which aim to orbit and land on the Moon, respectively, could benefit from this new technology. It is also seen as crucial for future missions to Mars planned for the early 2030s. 

The current Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG) system, in use since the 1970s, often leads to health issues such as urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal distress, and offers limited hydration options.

“The MAG has reportedly leaked and caused health issues such as urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal distress,” Etlin said. 

“Additionally, astronauts currently have only one litre of water available in their in-suit drink bags. This is insufficient for the planned, longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last ten hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency.”

Etlin and her colleagues designed the urine collection device to address these issues. 

The undergarment is made from multiple layers of flexible fabric and connects to the collection cup, which comes in different shapes and sizes for men and women. 

The system uses a vacuum pump activated by a moisture-sensitive RFID tag to draw urine away from the body.

Once collected, the urine is diverted to the filtration system, where it is processed with an efficiency of 87 per cent using a two-step, forward-reverse osmosis system. 

The purified water, now enriched with electrolytes, is pumped into the in-suit drink bag, making it available for consumption. 

The entire system, which includes control pumps, sensors, and a liquid-crystal display screen, is powered by a compact 20.5V battery and weighs approximately eight kilograms, making it light enough to be carried on the back of a spacesuit.

“Our system can be tested in simulated microgravity conditions, as microgravity is the primary space factor we must account for. These tests will ensure the system’s functionality and safety before it is deployed in actual space missions,” said Dr Christopher E Mason, a professor at the same institute as Etlin and the study’s lead author.

More details are accessible here.