Astronauts on long missions could make spacewalks easier thanks to a new device.
The Stillsuit system, inspired by the device from the sci‑fi film Dune (2000), collects urine, purifies it, and returns it to the astronaut as drinking water in just five minutes.
The prototype’s authors hope it can be used by the end of the decade as part of NASA’s Artemis program. NASA is set to launch Artemis in 2026, with a focus on landing a crew at the Moon’s south pole. By the 2030s, the agency plans to carry out crewed missions to Mars.
The proposed system of wearable suits consists of a special cup made of molded silicone inside underwear, which is made from several layers of flexible fabric. Photo: Claire Walter
“Currently, astronauts have only one liter of water in the drinking packs of their spacesuits,” said Sofia Etlin, a research associate at Cornell University. “That’s far from enough for planned spacewalks, which can last 10 hours, and in an emergency even up to 24 hours.”
Work in space, particularly on the ISS, also involves a persistent problem with waste management. This mainly concerns maximum absorption garments (MAGs), essentially adult diapers. MAGs can leak, are uncomfortable, and unhygienic. As a result, some astronauts limit their food and drink intake before a spacewalk, and others report urinary tract infections.
“MAG leakage is a common occurrence. Astronauts say that at some point they can no longer tell whether it’s urine or sweat. They say: yes, I am an astronaut, and this is a burden I have to bear,” said Sofia Etlin.
How does the urine-to-water system work?
The proposed Stillsuit is basically a pair of pants made from several layers of flexible fabric that incorporates a molded silicone urine collection cup. Researchers developed versions suitable for both female and male astronauts.
The cup connects to a vacuum pump that activates when it senses moisture. It turns on automatically as soon as the astronaut begins to urinate. After collection, the urine is routed to a filtration system that recovers water with about 87 percent efficiency. A reverse osmosis unit extracts water from the urine, and a pump separates the water from salts.
Urine collection cups that are inserted inside a modified space suit.
After five minutes of purification, about 500 ml of purified water can be enriched with electrolytes and returned to the astronaut as an energy drink. The filtration unit measures 38 x 23 cm and weighs about 8 kg. The Guardian called it compact and light enough to be carried on the back.
In the fall, researchers plan to recruit 100 volunteers from New York to test the Stillsuit for comfort and functionality.
“We can test the system in simulated microgravity, because microgravity is a key factor in space,” said Professor Christopher Mason of Weill Cornell Medical College, the study’s senior author. “These tests will help ensure the system’s functionality and safety before deployment in real space environments.”
The team published detailed information about the prototype in the journal Frontiers in Space Technology.
