According to a study by the European Space Agency (ESA), the urine of astronauts could be used to improve compounds and create building materials to, for example, make a settlement on the Moon a reality.
The space race uses the latest technology in the world to achieve milestones. Often times, the great technological advances are based on space engineering and the instruments that are invented to get man to go further and further up there.
However, it appears that the latest discovery from the European Space Agency (ESA) is low on technology. According to a study published on its website, it seems that the urine of astronauts could be key to achieving the first human settlement outside the Earth.
As you already know, uploading materials from our planet to space is really expensive. It is estimated that each kilogram that is put into space costs more than one million euros. A bit expensive, huh? For this reason, research in recent years at NASA has been to create machines that can manufacture materials on a ship or space station. 3D printers are key in this process, a discovery that has revolutionized the space race.
Urea to create strong lunar concrete
Scientists have discovered that if you put together urea and lunar regolith, a loose rock found on the surface of the Moon, you can create a very strong kind of lunar concrete. “The scientific community is especially impressed by the great resistance of this new recipe compared to other blends. In addition, he is also attracted to the idea that it allows the use of material already available on the Moon ”, explained Marlies Arnhof, co-author of the study that you can consult here. Urea, which we are currently capable of manufacturing to create fertilizers and which is also the main component of our urine, acts as a superplasticizer in the mix. It is a very cheap material and, in addition, an adult is capable of generating approximately 1.5 liters of urine per day. Therefore, according to ESA in its study, it seems that the urine of astronauts could turn by surprise into a "promising product for space exploitation". As I have mentioned before, the material is very resistant. According to the tests carried out, this lunar concrete mixed with astronaut urine would be able to withstand the typical adverse conditions of space. For example, vacuum and extreme temperatures. The samples made resisted temperatures from 114 ° C to -80 ° C, data that could be improved by adding more components to the mixture. In short, an extraordinary find that could solve many headaches. According to Marlies Arnhof, using astronaut urine to create structures "would be very practical, and would avoid having to further complicate the sophisticated water recycling systems used in space." Isn't that surprising?
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