How do astronauts breathe inside the International Space Station?
Quick Answer
The ISS makes oxygen from water and removes carbon dioxide from the cabin air. It also uses recycling and backup systems so the crew can live there for months at a time.
The Full Story
The International Space Station supports breathing by splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen in an electrolyzer, a process used on the station since its early years. The oxygen is released into the cabin, while carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts is scrubbed from the air. The ISS also recycles moisture from sweat and urine into clean water, reducing the amount that must be launched from Earth. This closed-loop life-support system is essential for long missions and has been refined through decades of station operations since 1998.
Key Facts
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"Inside the ISS: how astronauts turn water into air"
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