Single-Phase Laundry for Long Duration Space Missions

Long duration space flights will require an on-board clothes laundering facility to reduce the logistic requirement of resupplying clean clothing. The concept investigated and discussed in this paper addresses two major problems associated with all microgravity clothes laundering facilities to date: high energy consumption and two-phase air/water waste streams. Foam and air bubbles decrease the efficiency of pumps, storage vessels, and water reclamation systems. This problem was overcome by eliminating all air additions during the wash/rinse cycles. Energy consumption is minimized by use of microwave energy for drying.