Space: Is there a way astronauts can recycle their poo?
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Is there a way astronauts can better recycle their wee and poo in space?
This is something US space agency Nasa are hoping to find out.
It also wants to recycle other human waste like the carbon dioxide we breathe out, and normal everyday rubbish too, including foam packaging materials.
But as they're not sure how this would work, they're asking the public (and experts) for help to come up with suggestions.
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The person or the team that comes up with the best idea will earn a 拢18,000 prize, with separate smaller prizes awarded for the best idea in each individual category.
It's called the 'Waste to Base Materials Challenge: Sustainable Reprocessing in Space'.
The challenge is only open to adults, but if you have an idea you could always work with someone like a parent, guardian or teacher to enter, with people from any country able to take part.
Why is Nasa doing this?
What is the International Space Station?
Nasa bosses think that if the ideas put forward are successful, it will allow astronauts to go on longer missions because they won't be restricted by the amount of resources they need to bring.
Whatever is already on board the ship with the astronauts can be re-used again and again.
The space agency has already developed a number of systems that process different types of waste, that are currently in use in spacecraft and at the International Space Station (ISS).
For example, special scrubbers remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and, with the addition of hydrogen, convert it into oxygen and other hydrocarbons.
The longest space mission to date has been 328 days, completed by Nasa astronaut Christina Koch
But Nasa says there is always room for improvement, and longer missions will require more efficient, more integrated solutions.
The deadline to enter is 15 March 2022 at 9pm UK time with the winner due to be announced on 26 April 2022.
Poo and wee: Human waste is mostly water and is rich in microbes, so Nasa hopes it can potentially be extracted, cleaned and reused
Rubbish - this can include things like consists of food, drink pouches, wipes, cotton clothes and towels, hygiene products, and bags. These item often contain water too, so Nasa is interested in a way that this can be recovered, as well as ways to convert dry trash into materials that can become the base material for making new things
Foam packing: This is used to protect items from the force of high speeds during launch, but after this it is not needed, and takes up valuable room in the spacecraft. Nasa is wondering if maybe someone can suggest a new foam material to use that can be recycled for use in 3D printers, or could it be used for used to build shelters on Mars?
Carbon Dioxide (CO2): CO2 is breathed out by astronauts and then removed from the air. Currently oxygen can be recovered from it but there are also gases in there which could be used as resources. Nasa wants to know how this would be possible.
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