Water Walls and Engineering for Aerospace Success

Water Walls are structures within spacecraft that carry water to absorb cosmic radiation and thus protect passengers. The properties of water make it excel in the defense against foreign objects and sustainment of life on lengthy missions. To stay under weight requirements, drinking water can be stored in and cycled through the water walls using filtration processes. Lengthy missions result in the accumulation of microbiomes within the water, requiring the need for a water disinfectant. Silver ions fill this role superiorly over iodine due to the fact that they cause no harmful symptoms after consumption and they cut costs in filtration, a notable comment as iodine must be filtered out of the water or it will suppress thyroid function if consumed constantly over long periods of time. As NASA looks to the future when constructing its unprecedented interplanetary missions, water walls and specifically the usage of silver ions as a water disinfectant must be considered for inclusion in spacecraft to cut costs, ensure the protection of passengers, and elevate humanity to the stars and beyond.