Astronauts install water recycler on space station

By Irene Klotz

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Astronauts hooked up a water recycling system and installed two new bedrooms aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday while crew mates prepared for a second spacewalk to fix the outpost's power system.

The work is part of a final effort to complete the $100 billion orbital complex, a project involving 16 nations, by 2010 when the space shuttles are to be retired.

For 10 years, NASA's shuttle fleet has provided bulk delivery, construction and repair services for the space station with regular visits by seven-member crews and a cargo hold that can tote 50,000 pounds (22,680 kg) to and from orbit.

The shuttle also has provided nearly all of the water needed to support the station's three live-aboard crew members. The shuttle's electrical system makes water as a byproduct, which is bagged and transferred to the station.

Next year, NASA and its international partners plan to double the station's crew size to six, making water recycling important.

The new system takes urine, condensation from the air and other wastewater and turns it into drinking water.

The space station crew, which now includes astronaut Sandra Magnus, are nearly a day ahead of schedule with the renovations and upgrades planned during shuttle Endeavour's 11-day stay.

The first samples of urine are slated to run through the system on Thursday. NASA wants one gallon (four liters) of processed wastewater returned on the shuttle for analysis on Earth.