Story perspectives

NASA's New System Boosts ISS Urine Recycling to 90%

11/10/2025

Summary

Story summary

NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) developed the Alternate Urine Pretreatment (AUP) to raise ISS water reclamation from urine to 90%, enabling long-duration missions, including to Mars.
AUP reduces mineral buildup in the recycling system, addressing past clogging issues.
Astronauts continue to adapt to the space station's waste and hygiene compartment, which uses suction systems for both urine and solid waste.
Upcoming improvements may simplify the process for female astronauts.

History

Historical Context

NASA's advanced water recovery systems, developed in 2009, achieved a 90% reclamation rate aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This innovation addressed waste management challenges, particularly for female astronauts, and built on earlier efforts like the 1998 bioreactor designed for human waste reclamation. These advancements are crucial for ensuring sustainability in future long-duration missions to Mars and beyond.

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Story summary

NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) developed the Alternate Urine Pretreatment (AUP) to raise ISS water reclamation from urine to 90%, enabling long-duration missions, including to Mars.
AUP reduces mineral buildup in the recycling system, addressing past clogging issues.
Astronauts continue to adapt to the space station's waste and hygiene compartment, which uses suction systems for both urine and solid waste.
Upcoming improvements may simplify the process for female astronauts.

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