If we’ve learned anything from The Ice Pirates, we’ve learned that in space — and increasingly on our planet as well — water is the most valuable substance. Among the host of upgrades that the International Space Station is set to receive over the next couple weeks is a water purification system that’ll recycle urine for use as drinking water. Similar technology has been used in the Salyut and Mir space stations to process water collected from the cabin’s atmosphere (the result of perspiration, aspiration and A/C condensation) but until now claiming back as much as 92% of water consumed by astronauts was just a wonderful dream. The project is part of a 15-day shuttle mission aimed at increasing the number of astronauts the craft can hold from three to six.

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International Space Station crew ‘thrilled’ to receive new urine recycling equipment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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