Why do astronauts get water in their suits?

Spacesuit Leaks: When Astronauts Face a Watery Nightmare

Imagine floating hundreds of miles above Earth, the vast expanse of space your backdrop, when suddenly, you feel a cold trickle. Not just any trickle – water, inside your spacesuit. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi thriller, right? But for astronauts, the very real possibility of water intrusion during a spacewalk, or Extravehicular Activity (EVA), is no joke. It’s a serious threat that has, on more than one occasion, turned a routine mission into a potentially deadly situation.

So, how does this happen? Where does the water come from? Well, it’s not as simple as a rogue raindrop, obviously. There are a few potential culprits.

First off, think about the sheer effort astronauts put in during a spacewalk. It’s hard work! All that exertion leads to sweat and, well, heavy breathing. If the suit’s humidity control system throws in the towel, all that moisture can condense, especially on the cooler parts inside the helmet. It’s like when your car windows fog up on a chilly morning, only far more dangerous.

Then there’s the drinking water. Yep, some suits have a built-in hydration system. But a leaky valve? That could spell trouble, releasing water right into the helmet. Not ideal.

And let’s not forget the Thermal Control Garment, or TCG. This nifty piece of gear, worn under the spacesuit, is basically a network of water-filled tubes designed to keep the astronaut’s body temperature regulated. Think of it like a personal air conditioner, but with water. If those tubes get damaged, or the connections aren’t quite right, you’ve got yourself a leak waiting to happen.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: the Portable Life Support System (PLSS). This is the astronaut’s lifeline, providing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide and moisture. It’s packed with all sorts of components – a sublimator, gas trap, filter, check valve, water separator – and if any one of those malfunctions, it can lead to water where it definitely shouldn’t be: inside the ventilation loop, heading straight for the astronaut.

And sometimes, it’s not a mechanical failure at all. Contamination can also play a role. Inorganic materials, like silica, can sneak into the water filtration system, causing blockages and, you guessed it, water spillage.

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, a little water, what’s the big deal?” Well, let me tell you about Luca Parmitano. In July 2013, during EVA 23, this ESA astronaut experienced a water leak so severe it nearly cost him his life. Water flooded his helmet, covering his eyes, nose, and ears. Imagine trying to see, breathe, and communicate with what felt like a fishbowl on your head. The spacewalk was immediately called off, and thankfully, Parmitano made it back to the airlock safely, but it was a close call. We’re talking about an estimated 1 to 1.5 liters of water sloshing around in his helmet!

The investigation that followed revealed some pretty unsettling stuff. Turns out, inorganic materials had blocked the drum holes in the water separator, causing the water to spill into the vent loop. And where did those materials come from? A water filtering facility at Johnson Space Center that wasn’t properly managed for silica. Silica-laden water was then used in processing flight hardware filters used in four on-orbit spacesuits. Talk about a systemic failure!

More recently, in June 2024, another spacewalk was cut short when astronaut Tracy Dyson reported water leaking from her spacesuit’s cooling system. She described it as “an arctic blast all over my visor” and even saw ice crystals forming. Chilling, right?

So, what’s being done to prevent these watery nightmares? After the 2013 incident, NASA took some serious steps. They added a helmet absorption pad to the back of the helmet to soak up any excess water. They also inserted a breathing tube into the helmet, just in case water clung to the face. And, of course, they’ve been working hard to address the silica contamination issue and create backups for critical systems.

But the truth is, even with all these precautions, the agency is still trying to pinpoint the root cause of the buildup in the 2013 incident. It’s a complex problem with potentially devastating consequences.

Why all the fuss about a little water? Because it’s not just a little water. It’s a potential killer. Water in a spacesuit can lead to asphyxiation, vision impairment, communication problems, hypothermia, and even electrical issues. Any one of those could be fatal in the unforgiving environment of space.

Bottom line? Spacesuits are incredible pieces of technology, but they’re not foolproof. The issue of water intrusion remains a real and present danger. But thanks to the hard work and dedication of engineers and scientists, space agencies like NASA are constantly learning, adapting, and striving to make space travel safer for the brave men and women who dare to explore the final frontier.