Sci-fi Inspired Spacesuit that can Turn Urine into Drinking Water

A sci-fi-inspired spacesuit, modelled on Dune's “stillsuits,” recycles urine into drinking water, enabling longer spacewalks on lunar missions.

The prototype collects and purifies urine, returning it as drinkable water within five minutes through a drinking tube.

Creators aim for deployment in NASA’s Artemis program by the end of the decade to support prolonged lunar expeditions.

Features include a vacuum-based external catheter and a forward-reverse osmosis unit, ensuring a continuous supply of potable water with multiple safety mechanisms.

Astronauts have only one litre of water for spacewalks, insufficient for planned 10 to 24-hour lunar missions, highlighting the need for this new system.

The system, compact and light enough to be carried on a spacesuit, addresses issues with the current waste management solution, the maximum absorbency garment (MAG).

Current MAGs are leak-prone and uncomfortable, causing astronauts to limit intake and risk UTIs, prompting the need for a better solution. The team plans to test the system for comfort and functionality with 100 volunteers in New York.