Water in Space

Water is precious on Earth and even more so in space. It takes a lot of energy to propel water into space… and as there’s only so much a rocket can carry, the less water needed – the more scientific equipment can be sent and the further we can travel.

Hi. I’m Arno. I’m with the Aquanauts.

We’re wild about water and how to make sure there’s enough for everyone who needs it now and in years to come.

Here at Aquanaut HQ, we’re checking out what happens in space.

There aren’t reservoirs, rivers or oceans, at least as far as we know!

So, astronauts have to either take all the water they need with them or make it as they travel. So, how do they do that? Let’s go to the Aquanaut Space Centre!

As we know, space is a big part of our future, and there isn’t a readily available source of water in space…

Aquafact – astronauts need about 3 litres of water every day for drinking and preparing food, and another 4 litres for personal hygiene – that’s a total of 7 litres. Here on Earth, we use on average 230 litres of water every day!

Of course, water isn’t JUST needed for drinking and washing, it can help cool things down and generate electricity in fuel cells. 

As we travel further into space, astronauts will need to be more self-sufficient in lots of other ways. After all, you can’t get a supermarket delivery in space!

As we journey further and perhaps even set up colonies, we’ll need water to grow crops and other things to eat, after all, no one wants to eat dehydrated food for ever!  So, what’s the answer?

Technologists have been working with astronauts to develop ways to grow vegetables in space with some success. As you can imagine though, it’s quite a challenge as crops behave kind of differently in low gravity environments, like how they absorb water. One solution… plant pillows!

On the International Space Station, astronaut syringe water into containers called plant pillows. These keep the water stable making it easier for plants to absorb just the right amount. Now, whilst this works well for leafy greens like lettuce, an alternative is needed for larger plants that need more water. That’s where NASA and Tupperware joined forces to create a plant growth unit called PONDS. That’s short for Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System, which uses a free-standing reservoir of water that plants can draw from when they want.

There’s even more cool new tech in development with Aquaponics, that’s a way for aquatic animals and crops to thrive in a space-saving system that uses a tenth of water compared to traditional farming. Just think, astronauts might get to enjoy a prawn cocktail too!

So whether for drinking, washing or watering plant, astronauts can’t waste a drop of water but if we can’t carry unlimited amounts, where does the water come from?

That’s where water recycling comes in. The Space Station uses a system called the ‘Environmental Control and Life Support System’.  This comprises a ’Water Recovery System’ that collects the astronaut’s wastewater and a ‘Water Processor Assembly’ that turns that wastewater into drinkable water.

As you know, we all sweat to control our body temperature, and special dehumidifiers in the Space Station capture moisture from the crew’s sweat and breath. It also collects water from the shower, hand-washing and teeth cleaning and also their wee!

All of the collected moisture and water goes through a series of membranes to filter out contaminants and a catalytic reactor to break down any remaining impurities. Sensors check the water’s purity, and if it’s not good enough, it gets reprocessed. Every day, the ISS can produce 136 litres of drinkable water from the crew’s sweat, breath and urine. 

Now, the thought of drinking recycled wee might gross some people out, but scientists say the purified water is cleaner than that we drink on Earth.

Now, we’ve talked about wee… but what about the poop? 

Sometimes, astronaut poop is brought back to Earth for scientists to study, but most of the time, it’s vacuumed into garbage bags and launched back to Earth, burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. So, just think, whenever you ever seen a shooting star, it might be a meteorite burning up in Earth’s atmosphere or just flaming astronaut poo! In the future, it might even be used as fertiliser to help the plants grow!

There’s plenty of ways to make a difference and YOU can be an Aquanaut too! Back here on Earth, remember to turn off taps and take showers instead of baths, after all, it makes sense not to waste water wherever you are in the universe!

You can also explore a career in water engineering and technology. 

Water Workers

There’s a wide range of jobs across the water sector and today’s water worker is Hydrology Engineers.

Hydrology engineers are responsible for managing and controlling water resources. They design systems for the distribution, flow, and circulation of water. They also work on sewage treatment and disposal.

Hydrology Engineers ensure the effective flow of water through channels and pipes for the engineering and control of water provision. The quicker the water gets to its destination the more cost effective it can be!

Take the challenge!

With the Space Plant Pillow Experiment, you will explore how plans can grow without soil, mimicking the conditions astronauts face when growing food in space. Ready? Download here!

Want to know more?

‘This is Engineering’ is an initiative led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with EngineeringUK and major engineering organisations to encourage young people from all backgrounds to consider a career in engineering. Click HERE to find out more… or perhaps visit the Museum of Engineering Innovation.

Stick with us… we’re going to be helping you understand the challenges ahead, and discover some of the cool engineering and careers that are helping solve the issues. We’re also going to find out how we can all make a difference – with more tips on how you can become an Aquanaut and help engineer our water future!

AQUANAUTS! CREATED WITH SUPPORT FROM A ROYAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING INGENIOUS GRANT AND CARDIFF UNIVERSITY.