NASA has teamed up with a major laundry detergent manufacturer to develop methods for washing clothes in space. Reported by The Associated Press.
Currently, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) wear underwear and clothes until they become unusable due to dirt and foul smell, and then they are thrown away. NASA intends to teach them how to take care of their clothes. Together with a major powder manufacturer, the agency hopes to find a method for cleaning clothes in space so that they can be reused for months or even years, like on Earth.
So, at the end of this year, NASA plans to send several sets of laundry detergents to the ISS. From December 2021, scientists will observe how enzymes and other ingredients react in six months of zero gravity. Then, in May 2022, the astronauts will be delivered stain removers and wipes.
At the same time, a manufacturer-digging company is developing a combined washer-dryer that could operate on the Moon or Mars with minimal amounts of water and detergent. Such a machine can also prove useful in arid regions of the Earth.
Earlier, astronauts on the ISS complained of migraines and sparked controversy between scientists about the cause of its occurrence sparked controversy. The Americans are convinced that the migraine is caused by an increased content of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the station's atmosphere. Their Russian colleagues disagree with this and are sure that the pain is caused by the influence of weightlessness.
