Last week, two crew suitcases for NASA astronauts were swapped out for a critical part needed at their next destination: the International Space Station. On May 29, a pump on the station's urine processor assembly failed. Dana Weigel, manager for NASA’s International Space Station Program, explained that the urine processor is a crucial component of the water recovery system on the station, turning urine into drinking water in a closed-loop system. The failed pump was not expected to malfunction until the fall, but its sudden breakdown necessitated the storage of urine on board in containers.
The arrival of Starliner at the station tomorrow is timely, as a replacement pump was swiftly swapped into its cargo. Weighing about 150 pounds, the new pump required the removal of two suitcases from Starliner containing clothes and toiletries handpicked by the astronauts. To accommodate this change, the astronaut duo will utilize a contingency supply of generic clothes and toiletries available on the space station during their short stay.
