Scientists from Cornell University are developing a real-world version of the ‘stillsuit’ featured in adaptations of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic Dune, which could be used by future astronauts as they embark on missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and beyond.
In order to live on the brutally dry world of Arrakis, the humans inhabiting Herbert’s fictional desert world were forced to develop specialised clothing designed to capture and recycle every drop of the body’s moisture for reuse. These ‘stillsuits’ prevented moisture loss, while filtering the body’s sweat and urine to provide drinkable water, which would allow the Fremen people to thrive under the harsh glare of Arrakis’ star.
Now, scientists are attempting to harness a similar technology to improve the lives of astronauts embarking on arduous spacewalks to the outer hull of the International Space Station (ISS), and potentially, on future missions to the surface of the Moon, and Mars.
The impracticality and astonishing expense of shipping fresh water to the ISS has led to the orbital outpost being equipped with a life support system that recycles 98% of the crew’s waste water. However, during spacewalks, astronauts have no choice but to relieve themselves in high-tech adult diapers known as Maximum Absorbency Garments (MAG), which are worn between the suit, and the crewmember’s bare skin.
As you can imagine, this has the potential to be a pretty unpleasant experience, both in terms of hygiene and comfort, especially taking into account the length of your average spacewalk, and the reality that the space diapers aren’t always perfect at doing their jobs.
“The MAG has reportedly leaked and caused health issues such as urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal distress,” said Sofia Etlin, a research member at Cornell University who served as first author of the study detailing the invention. “Additionally, astronauts currently have only one liter of water available in their in-suit drink bags. This is insufficient for the planned, longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last ten hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency.”
Cornell’s proposed solution would see NASA and her partners shift to a more elegant approach to microgravity bathroom time, in which waste urine is sucked out from a moulded silicone ‘collection cup’ placed around the genitals using a moisture activated vacuum pump. “I’ve been a fan of the Dune series for as long as I can remember,” explained Etlin in an interview with Science News. “Building a real life stillsuit was always a bit of a dream.”
The water is then sent to an eight kg filtration backpack that uses osmosis to purify the liquid, removing uric acid, ammonia, calcium and urea before enriching it with electrolytes, and sending it back into the suit’s water supply. Delicious. According to the design posted in journal Frontiers in Space Technologies, the system will be capable of purifying 500 ml in around five minutes, while using less than ten percent of the spacesuit’s energy.
Is the concept as elegant as the stillsuit worn by Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuv’s Dune: Part Two movie adaptation? No, but it certainly sounds more appealing than the current generation of absorbent astro pants used by the crew of the ISS today. The team is looking to test a prototype of their ‘stillsuit’ system on Earth in a simulated microgravity environment, before having an astronaut don the experimental tech for a real-world test drive at some point in the future.
For more space news why not read up on NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the Moon as part of its Artemis program, or find out about SpaceX’s most recent Starship test flight, which saw the rocket’s enormous booster make a powered splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
