NASA is recognized for many things â putting a man on the moon, technologically advancing spaceflight, and pioneering the mission to Mars â to name a few. One thing that they're not commonly known for is their innovation in hydration. It turns out NASA is uniquely qualified to innovate in this space (pun intended). When astronauts embark on their missions, they need to stay even more hydrated in space because fewer fluids are retained in zero gravity. This environment results in a decrease of plasma levels, loss of 2-3% of their body's water content, decreased performance, dizziness, lightheadedness, & fainting â or, in other words, dehydration.
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However, staying hydrated in the cosmos ends up being trickier than expected. Astronauts end up drinking significantly more water to offset the dehydration effects, resulting in going to the bathroom far more frequently. And in space, going to the bathroom is a bit, well⌠complicated. Because astronauts sit immobile for hours during launch and spend hours on end on spacewalks, there's no time or easy way to go to the restroom during missions. To address this concern, NASA invented a Maximum Absorbency Garment (essentially space diapers) to give astronauts peace of mind, but this is only a bandaid on the larger problem â the astronauts' health and performance.
After years of extensive Agency research and testing, NASA researchers came up with a scalable, healthy, and effective solution. NASA patented a powerful electrolyte formula to keep astronauts well hydrated and at maximum performance during their missions. This patent was revolutionary, and this formula is still used by astronauts today. Through rigorous studies, this formula was found to:Â
