NASA just recycled 98% of all astronaut pee and sweat on the ISS.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have achieved a 98% water recovery rate in a breakthrough achieved by a method that might make the faint of heart slightly squeamish: they hit peak astronaut pee recycling. 

The water recycling achievement is an important milestone for low-orbit space missions that aim to provide the basic needs of astronauts without resupply missions. This means recycling or regenerating things like food, air and water. 

In terms of the International Space Station (ISS), each crewmember needs around a gallon of water each day for drinking, food preparation, and hygiene uses like brushing teeth. The ideal goal in terms of water has been a 98% recovery of the initial water that crews take into space with them at the start of longer missions.

This is significant because it saves water but also means longer trips to space can take place without the need for water-refuelling missions.

Source: www.space.com

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