No more thirsty astronauts!

The international space station is about to get all the comforts of a modern, high-end, "green" home: a fancy recycling water filter (emphasis mine), a new fridge, extra bedrooms, workout equipment and the essential half-bath.

Well, isn't that special.

Most significant is the water recovery system — it will turn urine and condensation into fresh drinking water. The system is essential if NASA is to increase the size of the space station crew from three to six. That switch is supposed to occur by the middle of next year.

Endeavour's commander, Christopher Ferguson, considers the water system the single most important piece of equipment that he's delivering. He said the benefits go way beyond the space station — think of all the deep-space exploration made possible once crews are freed of lugging water.

"This is really it, and it has no parallel. I would challenge you to find any other system on the Earth that recycles urine into drinkable water. It's such a repulsive concept that nobody would even broach it.

Eew :) 

But, take me into the corner and beat me - this does sound like a great system. I just do not want to be the taste tester. 

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