This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7748818.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Nasa jubilant at urine solution | Nasa jubilant at urine solution |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Astronauts have fixed a urine-recycling unit on the International Space Station, needed to support a six-person crew at the research outpost next year. | Astronauts have fixed a urine-recycling unit on the International Space Station, needed to support a six-person crew at the research outpost next year. |
The mission of the US space shuttle Endeavour was extended by one day to fix the machine, which is designed to convert urine into drinking water. | The mission of the US space shuttle Endeavour was extended by one day to fix the machine, which is designed to convert urine into drinking water. |
The equipment had failed several times since it was delivered a week ago. | The equipment had failed several times since it was delivered a week ago. |
The shuttle is now due to return to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday after 16 days in orbit. | The shuttle is now due to return to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday after 16 days in orbit. |
"Not to spoil anything, but I think up here the appropriate words are 'Yippee!'," space station Commander Mike Fincke told mission control early on Tuesday morning. | "Not to spoil anything, but I think up here the appropriate words are 'Yippee!'," space station Commander Mike Fincke told mission control early on Tuesday morning. |
He supervised work on the malfunctioning water regeneration system - which distils, filters, ionises and oxidises wastewater including urine, perspiration and bath water, into drinkable water. | He supervised work on the malfunctioning water regeneration system - which distils, filters, ionises and oxidises wastewater including urine, perspiration and bath water, into drinkable water. |
He reported that two rounds of modifications to stabilise the device's centrifuge appeared to have worked. | He reported that two rounds of modifications to stabilise the device's centrifuge appeared to have worked. |
"There will be dancing later," mission controllers replied. | "There will be dancing later," mission controllers replied. |
The urine device has already completed a full five-hour run on Monday and was nearing completion of a second full run on Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reported. | The urine device has already completed a full five-hour run on Monday and was nearing completion of a second full run on Tuesday morning, the Associated Press reported. |
Engineers planned to keep the device operating throughout the day in the hope of producing enough processed urine before Endeavour's departure on Friday. | Engineers planned to keep the device operating throughout the day in the hope of producing enough processed urine before Endeavour's departure on Friday. |
Nasa needs the new system operating before it can expand the station's crew from three to six people, which is currently scheduled for May 2009. | Nasa needs the new system operating before it can expand the station's crew from three to six people, which is currently scheduled for May 2009. |
Home improvement | Home improvement |
The urine-recycling device was ferried into orbit and installed in the space station's Destiny laboratory after the shuttle arrived on 16 November. | The urine-recycling device was ferried into orbit and installed in the space station's Destiny laboratory after the shuttle arrived on 16 November. |
The Endeavour mission is part of a $250m (£165m) "home improvement" effort at the space station. | The Endeavour mission is part of a $250m (£165m) "home improvement" effort at the space station. |
href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7729085.stm">Urine passes Nasa taste test | |
As well as the recycling unit, the space station has been fitted with a new freezer, a scientific oven, two sleeping quarters, exercise equipment, an additional toilet and new food preparation facilities. | As well as the recycling unit, the space station has been fitted with a new freezer, a scientific oven, two sleeping quarters, exercise equipment, an additional toilet and new food preparation facilities. |
The fix came a day after astronauts finished a fourth and final spacewalk to repair a mechanism to keep the station's solar panels pointed towards the sun. | The fix came a day after astronauts finished a fourth and final spacewalk to repair a mechanism to keep the station's solar panels pointed towards the sun. |
While the crews slept, engineers on the ground watched as the newly-repaired joint automatically pivoted to track the sun for the first time in a year. | While the crews slept, engineers on the ground watched as the newly-repaired joint automatically pivoted to track the sun for the first time in a year. |
Work has been somewhat slower than expected because astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her tool bag during the first spacewalk. | Work has been somewhat slower than expected because astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her tool bag during the first spacewalk. |
Nasa plans eight more flights to the station, a $100bn (£66bn) project of 16 nations, before the shuttles are retired in 2010. | Nasa plans eight more flights to the station, a $100bn (£66bn) project of 16 nations, before the shuttles are retired in 2010. |
Previous version
1
Next version