In Space, No One Can Hear You Stream

“Folks had good knowledge of the content of the urine going in, but the chemistry changes as it works through the processor are not always understood. There are a lot of parameters including urine calcium and pH (acidity) that everyone is looking at.”
-NASA scientist Julie Robinson explains the problem with the International Space Station’s water recycling system. The system, which converts astronaut urine into a potable liquid, has experienced damaging clogs due to the urine’s high calcium content, which may be a result of “bone loss, a consequence of living in a zero-gravity environment, or other factors.”