Alternative Hygiene Concepts

This is an exploratory paper which will look at some hygiene alternatives and how they could be developed for manned space flight. Areas to be covered will include: Body Hygiene emphasising body-brushing; Dental care, emphasising preventive care and alternatives to brushing of teeth; Dietary aspects in the way it can help ease and aid hygiene, by maintaining a good microorganism balance within the gut and in preventing tooth decay. The problem of body waste collection will be looked at to indicate radical areas of investigation. How such an alternative system could be implemented will be looked at as astronauts would have to undergo an adjustment phase until their bodies reach a new healthier equilibrium, in which they adjust themselves to new habits and to the new, healthy aroma of their colleagues.

Ultimately, this will lead to reduced hygiene water requirements and hopefully simpler technological solutions to body waste collection.