New Delhi: After five frustrating days, astronauts aboad space shuttle Endeavour finally ran a successful test on equipment that turns urine into drinking water.
Samples of the processed urine, sweat and condensation will be tested on Earth before astronauts can start drinking the purified water next year.
But until early Tuesday, the machine couldn't last the four hours needed for a successful test run.
A six member space crew could soon be in orbit, thus doubling the present crew strength. The tests are therefore, a necessity for supporting the crew.
NASA added a 16th day to Endeavour's mission so astronauts could tinker with the urine processor.
Flight Director Holly Ridings in Houston, Texas confirmed that the tests were going well. There was more good news for the astronauts on Tuesday when it was announced that a jammed solar-wing joint on the station's right side had been mended.
Flight controllers said that tests showed the solar wing's joint has been moving well so far - after not working properly for more than a year.
Comments
0 comment