How Do Astronauts Get Drinking Water In Space?

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) can't just order a case of bottled water! Bringing water from Earth is super expensive, so they RECYCLE almost everything. Astronauts in space recycle water from various sources, including sweat, condensation from breath, and even urine. Yes, urine! A specialized water management system extracts every drop, purifying it to make it potable. Mind you, this recycled water is even cleaner than tap water on Earth! While the idea of drinking recycled urine may seem unappetizing, the recycling process makes the water safe and taste like bottled water, according to ISS water system manager Layne Carter. Without such innovative recycling methods, supplying water from Earth would be prohibitively expensive, costing thousands of pounds of rocket fuel per crew member annually.