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Astronauts
How do astronauts deal with garbage in space?
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1 Reply
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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and other spacecraft have to deal with managing various types of garbage and waste generated during spaceflight. Here’s how they typically handle it:
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Trash compaction:
- Astronauts use specialized trash compactors to reduce the volume of solid waste, such as food packaging, wrappers, and other items.
- The compacted trash is then stored in resealable bags or containers.
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Incineration:
- Some spacecraft like the ISS have incinerators that can burn up certain types of waste, reducing its volume.
- The ashes from incineration are then stored for later disposal.
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Disposal:
- For the ISS, larger items that cannot be compacted or incinerated are loaded into a disposable cargo spacecraft, such as the Russian Progress or the SpaceX Dragon.
- These cargo spacecraft then detach from the ISS and burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, disposing of the waste.
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Water recycling:
- Astronauts recycle water from various sources, such as urine, sweat, and condensation, to minimize the amount of water waste.
- The recycled water is purified and reused for drinking, hygiene, and other purposes.
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Waste storage:
- Some waste, such as hazardous materials or items that cannot be disposed of immediately, are stored in dedicated areas on the spacecraft for later disposal.
It’s important to note that the specific waste management procedures may vary between different space agencies and spacecraft, as they continuously evolve to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. The goal is to minimize the amount of waste generated and dispose of it in a safe and responsible manner.
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