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Food From The Space Toilet

Posted by timothy on from the have-some-chickpeas dept.

Paintthemoon writes: "The European Space Agency is testing components for a system to recycle human waste in space. Saying that the ability to turn waste into food is crucial for long-haul missions (such as to Mars) or colonizing efforts, the ESA hopes that the entire system can be assemled and tested as a unit in 2005." The food is probably not a great reason to head to space, unfortunately.

3 of 14 comments (clear)

  1. Umm... logic? by FortKnox · · Score: 2

    Maybe I'm entirely outta wack, but isn't human waste... umm... waste? The body is rejecting the stuff it can't use?
    I'm sure that a minor amount maybe good, but nothing significant. I don't see anyone getting any significant amount of nutrients from crap! Especially urine, which is biological waste.

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  2. Could be worse... by Smedrick · · Score: 2, Funny

    At least it's a step up from that horrible astronaut food (anyone ever try astronaut pizza?) they sell at museums like the Smithsonian.

    *gag*

    --
    "I strongly urge both the faint of heart and the faint of butt to leave the room at this time."
    - Strong Bad
  3. How long to stabalize by maddogsparky · · Score: 2, Funny
    If they ever do this trip to Mars, I wonder how they will "prime the system", so to speak. I'm guessing they would have to get it set up in orbit with a temporary crew that had other stuff to fall back on in case it didn't work right away. Or maybe they could attach it to Alpha and switch it over to the Mars craft after it stabalizes.

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    science is a religion