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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- University of Utah researchers have developed a kit to help astronauts test the quality of their drinking water while they're in space.
The device is undergoing six months of testing at the International Space Station.
The station uses iodine and silver to purify its water but astronauts don't have an onboard method to test the water to ensure the right levels of disinfecting chemicals are being used. Instead, samples are sent back to Earth and results can take months to obtain.
The device runs on four AA batteries and provides results in about two minutes.
The technique involves shooting water through a specially designed porous disk. A device is then used to read the color of the disk and determine if the right levels of iodine and silver are in the water.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
