CO2 to detergent: That's how a washing machine works in space

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For astronauts on a months-long space mission, wearing the same outfit for several days is a common practice.

With water at a premium, currently, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) cannot wash their clothes in any way and simply put on new outfits when the old one gets dirty.

Recently, a Russia-based company — the RKK Energiya space corporation — announced that they have started developing a special space washing machine for future lunar expeditions and other interplanetary spaceships via an online video last Friday.

Technicians conduct spacesuit checks to prepare for Apollo 13 mission. /VCG Photo

According to the technology journal published by the company in 2017, water is no longer necessary for the washing machine. Instead, the clothes can be cleaned by the carbon dioxide expelled by human breathing after being turned into a liquid under extremely high pressure.

The report also estimates the total clothing weight needed for three astronauts on the ISS to be 660 kilograms (1,450 lbs). For a two-year Mars exploration, almost 3 tonnes will be added to the current weight for a crew with 6 members.

"Onboard equipment for hygienic treatment could significantly lessen the stocks of personal hygiene products and items of clothing," the report explained.

Normally, an ordinary washing machine can function under continuous water flow and gravity on Earth. However, the necessary environment for the machine to function in space is difficult to find.

Astronauts have to either take enough clothing or rely on resupplies from Earth. The discarded clothing will then be thrown out into space.

Last year, the Moscow Institute of Chemical Machine-Building said that it was going to develop a shower and sauna for astronauts as well as facilities for them to wash their hands and clothing.

NASA has also wrestled with the problem, funding research into methods of washing clothes without water and anti-microbial clothing that could be worn longer.

The announcement of the washing machine project comes as NASA canceled the first ever two-women spacewalk from the ISS last week because there was only one spacesuit on board that was the right size.

(With input from AFP)