SHOWER WATER FILTRATION AND STABILIZATION

THE BASELINE DESIGN OF NASA'S SPACE STATION INCLUDES A SHOWER FACILITY FOR THE USE OF THE CREW. A KEY COMPONENT OF THE FACILITY IS A HOSE AND NOZZLE WHICH IS USED TO REMOVE WATER FROM THE ASTRONAUT'S BODY AND THE SHOWER WALL. THREE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR WHICH SOLUTIONS ARE PROPOSED: HAIR AND OTHER DEBRIS MUST BE REMOVED. THE GROWTH OF MICROORGANISMS MUST BE CONTROLLED. FOAMING CAUSED BY THE CLEANSING AGENT MUST BE SUPPRESSED. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DISPOSABLE FILTER ELEMENT WHICH IS PRETREATED WITH A CONTROLLED-RELEASE BIOCIDE AND FOAM SUPPRESSANT THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE WATER AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE FILTER. MICROBIAL CONTROL WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE COLLECTION DEVICE, AND THE PROBLEM OF FOAM IN THE AIRWATER SEPARATOR WILL BE ELIMINATED.