×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ

Space

NASA can't decide whether astronauts should wash their underwear

By Mark Harris

26 November 2020

Astronauts

Astronauts wearing matching t-shirts on the International Space Station in 2019

NASA Johnson/Flickr

NASA and Procter & Gamble (P&G) have signed an agreement to develop the first detergent for washing clothes in space – despite a long-standing recommendation against astronauts doing their own laundry.

While astronauts wear spacesuits when working outside the International Space Station (ISS), they wear ordinary clothes most of the time. Once these are too dirty to be worn, they are then either returned to Earth as rubbish or ejected along with other waste in a capsule to burn up in the atmosphere.

Under the new

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with ×îÐÂÂ鶹ÊÓƵ events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, today with our introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 15 December 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account