Humans have lived in space for years, but need research and endless planning to allow it. Everything we think is trivial on the surface of this planet, where we have gravity and resources to accommodate our every will, must be engineered to work in space. Scientists have not resolved any problems needed to make a living in space for extended time convenient for astronauts and affordable for the government and companies that might make bills.
One of the biggest problems encountered astronauts is something we won’t think twice about on earth: washing clothes. That’s because they don’t wash their clothes. They wear shirts and pants and socks several times until the rules say they need to be exchanged for a new one, and the dirty ones are sent back to the planet. They accept fresh clothes with every supply trip, which is challenging to plan a longer mission. That’s where the tide wants to help, because the Procter & Gamble partner with NASA to come up with technology that will allow the astronauts to wash their clothes in space.
The main reason for astronauts don’t wash their clothes in the room regarding the water supply. International Space Station (ISS) recycles all of the water, and washing clothes is not part of the water budget.
But astronaut clothes become dirty. Occupants of the space station need to exercise two hours every day to fight the effects of weight on the muscles and bones. They then sweat on their clothes. Some water is reclaimed through evaporation, but the clothes will become smell and stiff. An astronaut must change t-shirts, shorts, and socks once per week, Leland Melvin tells the Associated Press.
“After that, they are considered toxic,” said the former Astronaut NASA and NFL players. “They like to have their own lives. They are very stiff from all the sweat.” Melvin will function as a project spokesperson.
An astronaut will need 150 pounds (68 kg) underwear every year. It’s a space on rocket cargo that can be used for other supplies if the astronauts can wash their clothes. Also, it is a clothing that is thrown back into the burning cargo in the atmosphere after reentering, so they will not even be reused in the future mission.
The problem is even more serious when it comes to a longer mission in space like NASA and others planning Mars and the moon. It is one thing to send fresh cargo regularly to the ISS and others have to supply astronauts at the moon base or they are on our way to Mars.
One solution uses antimicrobial clothing to extend the wear of items, but it is not permanent improvement. That’s why P & G and NASA will work together to develop better clothing cleaning solutions for space.
Initially, the P & G will send detergents made specifically for space so that scientists can determine how enzymes react to six months without weight. In May, the pen and tissue removal stains will be sent for testing.
Apart from installing products made for ISS, P & G will also develop a washing machine dryer that can run on the moon or Mars. The device will use a minimum amount of water and detergent, and water needs to be reclaimed for other use, including drinking and cooking. The same thing happens with urine and sweat now. Such P & G washing machine dryers will be useful in a dryer area on earth where water supply is a problem, but without reclamation features.