A team of scientists at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center has designed a compact washing machine intended for use on space missions, aiming to reduce the need for disposable clothing and conserve water.
Detailed in the Chinese Journal of Space Science, the suitcase-sized device weighs about 12 kilograms and operates without detergent. It uses just 400 milliliters of water per 30-minute cycle, applying an ultra-fine mist to clothing inside a sealed chamber. The machine then generates ozone with ultraviolet light to sterilize the garments before using heated air to both remove residual ozone and dry the clothes.
According to the researchers, the system achieved a 99.9% sterilization rate in simulations. “This method could allow clothing to be reused up to five times, reducing clothing payload weight by over 60%,” the team wrote.
Currently, astronauts aboard space stations wear clothes until they are soiled and then discard them, with used garments disposed of in cargo ships that burn up during re-entry. By enabling in-orbit washing, the new system could significantly reduce launch mass and costs for long-duration missions.
The researchers said their next step is to develop a working prototype, with potential applications extending beyond spaceflight to resource-limited environments on Earth.