NASA astronauts to drink their own urine today?
I know readers of this site have strong constitutions.
But as the NASA rocket thingy shot up to the skies last night for another interesting mission, the only thing on my mind was the water they will drink.
Because it appears that they will be testing the idea of sipping their own recycled urine.
I know, I know. There are many cities in the world where the tap water is undrinkable. And I had hoped that this was merely a cost-cutting move in our tight times. But the fact is that this wastewater recycling gizmoid cost $250 million and is one of the featured experiments on this trip. Two more nuggets of information that make my natural ease turn to quease.
"We did blind taste tests of the water. Nobody had any strong objections. Other than a faint taste of iodine, it is just as refreshing as any other kind of water," NASA's lead urinary engineer Bob Bagdigian told the Daily Telegraph.
I understand that it's not easy keeping astronauts hydrated out there in the black beyond. And I know that there have even been Prime Ministers who swore by drinking their own entirely unrecycled piddle.
But some small part of me wishes there was, as Tony Blair always used to waffle, a third way.
This will be one of the last ten flights of the Space Shuttle. It is being retired and after 2010 the only flights to the space station will be Soyuzes.
But the current aim is for 92% of all the water drunk on board to be produced by the crew's urinary tracts and the moisture in the air- some of which might be created, one supposes, by sweating crew members.
The claim is that the astronauts will only be testing the system and not drinking on this trip. However, if you're intrepid enough to squeeze into a shuttle then surely you have the gumption and fascination to take a small tot of your recycled liquid waste. Just like the trying the wine in a restaurant, isn't it?
Well yes, except that when you listen to the chemistry of the process, Lord, it might turn your tummy. They distill, filtrate and oxidate.
The final gourmet touch is the addition of that little smidgen of iodine to control microbial growth. Which I'm assuming is something to do with little mites feeding on your waste and having babies half way down your throat.
I am sorry. As Heidi Klum always says on Project Runway: "one day urine and the next day urout." I'm out.
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
The food you eat? Grown in soil enriched by miasma, feces, and chemicals and then sometimes consumed by other animals who further add to the fecal load of your food.
Drinking recycled urine?
You do it every day.
S.S.Nagpal, AGRA.
Pulitzer material. Thank you for not waisting our time with anything substantial (such as how the process works!)
Um...what do you think the first post said?
1. Shake vigorously (baggie, not ... nevermind)
2. Suck it up, big guy; it's good for you! That's a GOOD Astronaut!
3. Bottoms Up!
Total cost: $0.48 cents, and a lifelong misperception!
Hey, President-Elect Obama, I'm available if NASA needs an experienced Amaroli (aka "Urine Therapy") Consultant, and heck, 'cause I like you, I'll do it for $250,000 thou a year. And yep, I've "done" the deed. Repeatedly. The health benefits are tangible, and it's *not that bad*. & Most people don't know this, but urine is not a "dirty"; it's actually got a chemical composition, via prefiltering (aka *kidneys* - which cost a bit less than $250 Mil. to operate) to *blood* -- & noo, I'm not advocating vampirism; but who reading this hasn't licked a little cut, or otherwise tasted blood, with needing to run it through a 250MG <- $250 Million Gizmo ... first? It's 100% a *mindset* thing; that's ALL. Regular folks from all walks of life, all over the world, enjoy the "beverage that dare not speak its name" - http://www.aypsite.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=409 . I'd write a little more, but am feeling the need to go ... make a breakfast drink.
They are no more drinking their urine that you are. What is being done is water recycling, just like here on Earth, only faster and more contained.
What a bunch of idiots you are.
Also you can use that new lift capacity (since you aren't hauling as much water) for more important material. I'm somewhat doubtful of the $250 million price tag as well. Is that the cost of this single device or does it include the entire cost of the project research, overhead, transportation, and so forth? It's also important to point out that some device like this is going to be critical for any long haul zero gravity travel - like say to mars.
Lastly, comparing this to a kitchen water filter is just silly and you know that. This isn't just for distilling the water out of urine (distillation is difficult in zero g) its also a method to collect excess moisture from the air. This is pretty important in the space station (or in any place using constantly recirculated air) which has a continuing problem with mold growth due to high humidty caused by exhaled and evaporated water from the astronauts.
you forgot to factor in the elimination of the multi million dollar urinals (and whatever they call the female version) replaced by this thing and the reduction of use of a disposal system. (space logs excepted)
if you have ever been thirsty for just one day and you must have a drink at the cost of 250 Million dollars, I tell you that can do more for many souls who would brave the raging sea in a cup to find hope in another land. Let's give the world hope at a cost less than 250 Million dollars per drink
Thanks for playing!
1) I realize $250 million is alot of money and our country is hurting financially, but do you realize that for every $1 spent in space, $7 is contributed back to planet? Space travel and science is an investment with divdends!
2) While the shuttle program is retiring 2010, to say Soyuzes is the only vehichle to operate is just simply wrong. Chris, check out Nasa's new vehichle called Ares I and Ares V.
Because I feel strongly about blogs and comments in general, I will force myself to make a comment here and join the half-wits because it is the appropriate protocol if I am going to earn the right to rant.
Regardless of how you might feel about space exploration, ultimately we will venture off this planet. It is absolutely essential that engineering achievements and scientific breakthroughs push science. Space exploration is just one of the venues where these advancements are made. Just like when we push into our vast underwater domain here on earth, where we have to recycle and scrub air in order to breathe, we have to do the more with even less when we venture into space. Go read about real science and engineering if you are interested in this topic.
You've made my day with that one....I can't say I'll try it any time soon. But you've changed my perspective.
Let us hope for pea in our lifetime...
Chris
He was a very, very interesting man.
Chris
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