NASA Tasks Paragon to Develop Space Station Water Recovery System

Paragon Space Development Corp. has received a $5.1 million contract from NASA to develop a system the agency believes could help increase the water recovered from the urine of astronauts on the International Space Station.

NASA said Wednesday that Paragon will develop the Brine Processor Assembly to support the ISS’ efforts to recover water of up to 94 percent from processed urine.

Paragon will build the BPA to recover water from the brine left after the urine is processed by the ISS’ Water Recovery System, as well as help reduce resupply launches from Earth for future missions such as NASA’s Journey to Mars.

The company will conduct work for the contract at its Tucson facilities with NASA’s advanced exploration systems division as sponsor.

Paragon Space Development added that the BPA is scheduled to be launched in 2018, where it will undergo a performance test in the space station.