How do astronauts go to the bathroom?. Two Argentinians won an open innovation challenge from NASA.
Two Argentinian entrepreneurs are among the 24 winners of NASA’s Space Poop Challenge, the contest that seeks to solve the problem of the excrement of astronauts in space.
The next generation of cosmonauts will undertake very long trips, such as those planned for Mars, so space suits in case of emergency should be prepared to provide air, water, protection and sufficient nutrients for up to six days, according to experts. But NASA does not yet know how to manage body waste for long periods, including urine, feces and menstruation.
Diapers, which seem to be the most obvious option, are not a permanent solution: after a few hours, physiological waste can cause infections and irritation. In addition, due to microgravity, fluids can move around the suit and contaminate other parts of the body.
So far, the specialists of the space agency did not reach a solution and that is why they decided to ask the general public for help with this strange challenge.
The US space agency announced the winners of the ideas competition to solve the problem of how astronauts can relieve themselves for 6 days in a pressurized suit safely. The best ideas will be tested and implemented in the next three years.
Of the 7,766 proposals that were presented from around the world, through the official website of HeroX, one of the 24 winning solutions was developed by the Argentinean team integrated by Charly Karamanian and Alejandro Bollana.
Charly (40) is director of sustainable innovation at Red Innova, an experienced business consultant on innovation and sustainability, TEDx speaker and lives with his family in one of the most sustainable houses in Latin America. Alejandro (33) is an industrial designer, working on citizen experience design at the Ministry of Modernization in Buenos Aires City Government. They met in 2016 working at the Ministry led by Andy Freire and solved the challenge in less than a week of their free time, remotely and without meeting in person.
What was your inspiration to solve the challenge?
Charly: The main innovation is focused on the ergonomy of the interface between the astronaut’s body and the health system. The design was based on “Biomimetics”. Taking advantage of the best R&D (Research and Development) lab ever created; nature, with 3,800 million years of experience, through natural selection, trial and error, where the most efficient organisms are the one to survive. We were inspired by the suction system of the remora and the lamprey (similar to an eel). Also in the elasticity, movements and swallowing characteristics of the anaconda. Thus we create a comfortable, clean, healthy and odorless solution to process all kinds of human excretions.
What was it like working on this project?
Alejandro: It was a great challenge and at the same time a fun experience. We did not have time to get together, so we worked remotely, in the cloud, daily video conference and WhatsApp, returning from work, talking from the train or in the bus. People looked at us strangely and with good reasons. The conversations were very bizarre; we talked about remoras, anacondas, spacesuits and all kinds of eschatological concepts.
How does the system work?
Charly: It was thought to be simple to use. In space, fluids tend to cluster in spheres and can be moved with a slight air current. Before urinating or defecating, the astronaut has to press the corresponding button (1.urine 2.feces) to activate the suction functionality of the corresponding remora tube, avoiding spills, odors and carrying the excretions away from the body, towards the waste processor module. Once finished, they press the same button harder to activate the washing system called “saniflush”. After completing the wash, release the button and the air flow continues for a few seconds to complete the drying of the area.
The urine and/or menstruation together with the “saniflush” fluid, is stored in a one liter container, and is slowly transformed into water vapor and released outside the suit to be processed by the water recycling system of the spaceship. In case the water recycling system is not available inside the spaceship, the astronaut is doing a spacewalk or is stranded in space, we designed a 6 liter urine storage system located around the calves that mimics the movements of an anaconda climbing up the leg.
The feces and the “saniflush” is stored in a one liter removable container/cartridge, manufactured using bioplastics for future use in composting facilities or as it is currently done: to be ejected and burn while entering the earths atmosphere.
The air sucked by the remora tubes is filtered and deodorized by activated carbon filters and injected back into the space suit.
Which are the components of the Rémora HW system (Human Waste System)?
1. Rémora Underwear. Made with natural fibers with openings, fixings and fixings to keep the remora tubes in position.
2. Rémora tubes. Drives waste away from the body, washes and dries the genital area.
a. Male urinal tube. Composed by remora head in the shape of a cup (includes valves and saniflush system), tube and connection to the waste processing module.
b. Female urinal/menstrual tube. Composed by remora head with oval shape (includes valves and “saniflush” system), tube and connection to the waste processing module.
c. Unisex fecal tube. Composed by a circular shaped remora head (includes valves and “saniflush” system), tube and connection to the waste processing module.
3. Saniflush. Fluid for personal hygiene composed by: Gentle antiseptic, lanolin and a tension breaker. It is stored in the waste processing module, pumped to the injectors located in the recess head of the corresponding tube (urinal or fecal), then transported and stored in the corresponding container within the waste processing module. It has three differentiated functions: washing the genital area after excretion, washing the inside of the remora tubes and preserving the urine and feces for at least 6 days.
4. Waste processing module. It can be attached to the space suit, carried by hand or placed near the astronaut. Includes: Saniflush fluid reservoir, pump, filling valve; connectors for remora tubes, urine/menstrual container, stool cartridge, pump, charcoal filter, air return connector and purge valve; urine evaporator, power connection and remote control.
5. Remote control panel. Located on an arm or any other place at hand reach. With two double position push button(1.urine 2.feces), additional period mode switch (menstruation) and waste containers level indicators.
How is innovation related to nature and sustainability?
Charly: A few centuries ago, humans lived in balance with nature, consumed natural resources at a moderate pace, which allowed the regeneration of ecosystems. Since the industrial revolution and the exponential growth in population, the need for water, food and energy multiplied. Today we are consuming 1,7 times the resources that the planet can provide us; We are living as if we have another place to go when the earth can no longer sustain us. That’s why we need to rethink the way we develop our products and services; using exponential technologies but also getting inspiration from nature. We must radically improve the efficiency of our processes in order to achieve more with less, looking to optimice rather than to maximize.
How does NASA and the exploration of space relates to sustainability?
Charly: On the one hand, NASA is one of the world’s most important research and diffusion agencies on climate change issues. I recommend visiting NASAs website where they present evidence, causes, effects and solutions. NASA leads several monitoring programs and offers some revealing projections about climate, atmosphere, greenhouse effect gases, changes at the poles and continental ice, both from space and flying laboratories such as the DC-8 with more than 20 scientific instruments on board. You can also download the official “Earth Now” App, which shows real time information about satellites: carbon dioxide levels, gravity anomalies, ozone levels over Antarctica and many others.
As for space missions, it is interesting to note that the cost of sending each kilogram to space is enormous. Until a few years ago, taking a bottle of water to space cost about twenty thousand dollars. This cost is now falling thanks to Ealon Musk with SpaceX, Jeff Bezos with Blue Origin and ULA (United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockhead Martin). This necessarily obliges us to optimize the use of resources and to study thoroughly the interaction between the human beings and our environment; especially if we are planning future space missions to Mars, where we do not have the possibility of resupplying from the earth.
The international space station has an advanced water management system that recycles 93% of the water aboard. New technologies are also being developed to produce food in space. Running a space station or thinking about a permanent base on the Moon or Mars poses a great sustainability challenge.
By: Jesica Rizzo
Original article: https://www.lanacion.com.ar/1984975-como-van-los-astronautas-al-bano-dos-argentinos-ganaron-un-concurso-de-la-nasa
Versión en español: clic aquí
