Urine is a source of nutrients and water, prompting the development of URINIT, a ground-breaking technology poised to revolutionise the future of life support systems.
- DatesMay 2023-May 2025
- SponsorEuropean Space Agency
- Partners, Belgium
Providing water, food and a breathable atmosphere for the astronauts is one of the major challenges for human space exploration. Human presence in space is currently supported by a regular resupply of these life support consumables from Earth. Regenerative life support systems rely on the mission waste streams for in-situ oxygen, water and food production. Urine is such a waste stream, and it is the main resource of water and nutrients in space. At present, on the International Space Station, urine undergoes physico-chemical treatment to recover water, thereby reducing water resupply needs by 80%. Yet, 98% of water needs to be recovered to enable crewed missions to Mars. On long-duration missions and in permanent settlements, regenerat