Space exploration is an important field, but it is also one that uses up a lot of resources. When an instrument breaks down, a full-fledged space mission must be funded, assembled and launched into orbit to repair what has been broken.

On Friday, the astronauts stationed at the International Space Station had a busy day. They worked on a recycling system that turns urine and sweat into potable water. Also, they re-fired the thrusters of the Endeavour Space Shuttle.

The thrusters will have to elevate the shuttle and the International Space Station itself one mile. The purpose of the operation is to place the station in a suitable position to receive a Russian Progress spaceship. The spaceship will arrive at the space station three days after Thanksgiving, and is supposed to deliver cargo to the station.

The Endeavour will start its return journey to Earth on Thanksgiving, after having left from Florida a week ago. While there, both the seven astronauts from Endeavour and the three crew members stationed at the International Space Station have been working non-stop. After they will hold a scheduled news conference however, they will all be awarded a day off.

Using the recycling system has proved to be a difficult task so far. When the crew decided to test the urine-recycling part of the system, there was a fire alarm. They then proceeded to see if the part that purifies water works, yet the test results will first have to be analyzed on Earth. Only after the tests are completed and the results are examined will the system be ready to use on the station. This however, won’t happen until next year. When the system will function, the station will be able to hold 6 crew members, instead of the 3 members it can hold now.