Astronauts have to get used to many things in space, including that they cannot wash their dirty clothes.
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But researchers in Beijing have proposed a solution: a compact, detergent-free washing machine that cleans clothes with mist and ozone using almost no water – a limited resource in space.
The cube-shaped device is a bit larger than a carry-on suitcase and weighs 12kg (26lbs), according to the team that developed it from the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre.
They said it used only 400ml (13 fluid ounces) of water per cycle to clean up to 800 grams (28 ounces) of clothing.
That water is delivered as an ultra-fine mist through ultrasonic atomisation.
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Instead of detergent, the machine uses ultraviolet light to produce ozone, a powerful disinfectant that sterilises clothes for up to five wears.
