Is Tide Going to Space? Why & How (Explained)

We have seen our parents use Tide to wash our dirty clothes. But, can you imagine Astronauts using Tide to wash their clothes? I know you may find this question stupid. But, this thing has turned into reality.

Tide and NASA have tied up to make a fully degradable detergent that will help Astronauts wash their clothes in space without water. Astronauts don't have to worry about their clothes and can focus on other important things. Sounds exciting right? Keep reading this article to know more about this interesting project.

Importance of Fully Degradable Detergent
How Tide Detergent will be Extremely Beneficial for Three Years Mars Mission
How the Tide Detergent will Help to Solve Problems on Earth as well
Tide Degradable Detergent
FAQ

Importance of Fully Degradable Detergent

You may think that fully degradable detergent that will help washing clothes without water may not be very useful. But, you are wrong. Astronauts in space cannot wash their clothes as it would require a lot of water.

Other major challenges with the laundry system in space are compatibility with NASA life support systems and the risk that the ingredients of the detergent will cause harm to the Astronauts.

As they cannot do laundry Astronauts wear the clothes again and again. Once the clothes get stinky they are ejected with other waste to burn up in the atmosphere or sent back to Earth as trash.

Astronauts need to exercise for two hours every day. As you can imagine after doing so much exercise their clothes will get dirty easily. Due to this, they need to carry a lot of clothes while going to space. An Astronaut requires up to 68 kgs of clothes in space each year. The cargo is used to carry or store dirty clothes. The detergent will help the Astronauts save that precious cargo weight and use it for some other life-supporting gear.

How Tide Detergent will be Extremely Beneficial for Three Years Mars Mission

Most Importantly, this detergent would be extremely beneficial for a three-year Mars mission. They don't need to carry tons of clothes with them during this long journey. Do you know Astronauts need to turn dirty laundry water into drinking water? This is because ISS has closed-loop water systems.

This means that Astronaut wastewater like sweat, urine, and moisture from their breath is captured. Then all the impurities are filtered out to turn it into water. Since the detergent will not use any water, the filtration process will not occur. Now, Astronauts don't need to worry about filtering the dirty laundry water. NASA and Tide Detergent aim to turn this laundry water into drinking water.

How the Tide Detergent will Help to Solve Problems on Earth as well

Apart from saving the cargo storage of Astronauts if the detergent is successfully made it will have many benefits on earth as well. Most of the detergents contain ingredients that can pollute the watershed after we throw out dirty water there.

Due to this Detergent, we won't use a lot of water. This will help us to keep Oceans, Rivers clean. A quarter of the world's population doesn't have enough water. The Detergent would help us to save a lot of water.

Top 5 leading-edge Space Tech Startups in India

Many space tech startups in India have reached new heights. Lets look at the Top 5 leading-edge Space Companies in India that are taking India to new heights

StartupTalkyPratyusha Srivastava

Tide Degradable Detergent

The deal with Tide and NASA is estimated to be $111,000. Tide scientists are using Machine Learning Technology and existing data to find out what things will work and what will not in space.

Detergent has not been made yet and currently, scientists are working on it. In December, as an experiment both the companies will send the detergent to the space station.

Onboard a 2022 cargo launch to the space station, “Mission PGTide” (P&G Telescience Investigation of Detergent Experiments), teams will test the stability of cleaning ingredients under microgravity conditions and exposure to the radiation levels experienced in space in partnership with the ISS U.S. National Laboratory and SEOPS.

In addition, the stain removal ingredients and performance will be tested on board the ISS through experiments with Tide To Go Wipes and Tide To Go Pens. The Astronauts will see the product's reaction to weightlessness. In May Astronauts will receive the Stain removal pens and wipe for testing purposes.

''Through private-sector utilization of the space station, companies like P&G can conduct investigations in ways not possible on Earth to develop new consumer products, enhance existing products, and better understand processes that further business models both on the ground and in low Earth orbit. We look forward to this first investigation of Tide in Space and hope that many more will soon follow.'', said Dr. Michael Roberts, Acting Chief Scientist for the ISS National Lab.

P&G is developing a washer-dryer combo as well. This will use less water and detergent and would work on both the Moon and Mars. On Earth, this machine will help the people living in arid regions.

Conclusion

We can all hope that the detergent and other stain removal products work and don't disappoint the Astronauts. As told before Detergent is not yet made. If Tide and NASA successfully make these products then this would be a revolutionary thing for both the Astronauts and for the people on Earth.

We will only wait till December and May. If products are working then they will be very useful in the upcoming three-year Mars mission and for all future missions.

FAQ

Why did Tide and NASA have tied up?

Tide and NASA have tied up to make a fully degradable detergent that will help Astronauts wash their clothes in space without water.

Has Tide made the Degradable Detergent?

Detergent has not been made yet and currently, scientists are working on it.

When will the testing of Detergent and other Stain removal products be done?

In December, as an experiment both the companies will send the detergent to the space station. In May Astronauts will receive the Stain removal pens and wipe for testing purposes.

Why is Tide making a Detergent for Astronauts?

Astronauts in space cannot wash their clothes as it would require a lot of water. So, the Astronauts wear the clothes again and again. Once the clothes get stinky they are ejected with other waste to burn up in the atmosphere or sent back to Earth as trash. The Detergent would help Astronauts wash their clothes without water.

What is the estimation of the deal between Tide and NASA?

The deal with Tide and NASA is estimated to be around $111,000.