Houston, we have a problem

It isn’t all glamor and glitz being a NASA astronaut. Sure, you get to wear a keen space suit and go where no man has gone before. But there are downsides.

Like drinking water made of recycled urine and sweat while you’re on the international space station.


That’s right, Trekkies. You see, supplies are kind of limited in space. If you don’t bring it up, you can't break it out. Hence the recycled H2O.

Officially, the astronauts insist the treated water “tastes great,” though another group swears it’s “less filling.”

But you gotta expect the company line from astronauts. If you tick off Ground Control, your chances of getting another flight are about as likely as Dick Cheney getting invited over for barbecue this weekend by the Obamas.

NASA is keeping the lid on the water problem, but I’m guessing that the job of testing the first batch of recycled urine and sweat goes to the junior astronaut.

And what is the protocol for that first taste test? Retching would not be the right stuff. After a big gulp, I guess you’d say something like, “Hmmmm. It’s still a little … uh, gamey. Let’s run it through the processor a few more times.”

On the upside, when you got back to earth, you'd never again complain about drinking well water or big city water or pretty much any kind of water that didn’t come out of somebody’s bladder a few hours ago.

And if you’re applying for that three-year round-trip mission to Mars, well, just plan on bringing along a lot of breath mints.