Space Station Science Experiments Water on the Space Station Rationing and recycling will be an essential part of life on the International Space Station. All of the denizens of the space station lose water when they exhale or sweat. Such vapors add to the ambient cabin humidity, which is eventually condensed and returned to the general water supply.
Nothing can go to waste.
Making a Splash in Space Shuttle pilot Terry Wilcutt with 7 contingency water containers destined for the space station Mir. Before recycling can begin, there has to be some water to start with. They look like duffle bags and each one holds about 90 lbs. We have to recycle. There's already a Russian-built water processor in orbit that collects humidity from the air.