07. Other than for drinking, what are the other uses for water in space? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

Water is perhaps the most valuable substance in space. It can be used for life-support, propulsion, and energy—the three most fundamental needs of a space mission. Water can be used for nourishing plants we grow for food, for life-support functions and for shielding in the skin of our ships to protect us from radiation. It can also be broken down into oxygen for breathing. Water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen and then refined into liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, basic components of rocket fuel. In essence, water can become fuel for our spaceships. Hydrogen and oxygen release energy when they are either combined or separated. This constant cycle of combining and separating water produces energy that can be used to generate electricity. Electricity is our basic power source for operating almost all of our spacecraft systems.

---

Answer provided by Joe Rhemann

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

Buy This Book Click here