Two engineers from SpaceX built a 25-pound machine that turns seawater into drinking water at the push of a button. The filtration system is reportedly capable of producing up to 13 gallons per hour from freshwater sources. Vital Lyfe is a US-based water technology startup and was founded in 2024. It was co-founded by Jonathan Criss and Andrew Harner. Both are former SpaceX engineers. Criss is the company's CEO, and Harner is the COO. They gained engineering experience at SpaceX, and then applied aerospace-level precision and efficiency to the systems.
They developed Access, which is a portable desalination machine. It is built for a wide range of applications.
The main aim of the product was to address the big challenge. It was of providing clean drinking water everywhere. It was needed in environments where traditional infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or compromised.
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The product combines advanced engineering, and efficient manufacturing to produce and distribute fresh waste around the world. It can cater a range of customers, which includes campers, hikers, boat owners, sailors, and people living in areas that have limited access to clean drinking water.
Why was the machine developed?
The aim was to develop a smaller, more affordable machine that could produce drinking water from seawater that does not require conventional infrastructure. It was reportedly designed for people who are outdoor enthusiasts, boat owners and living in remote locations.They developed Access, which is a portable desalination machine. It is built for a wide range of applications.
The main aim of the product was to address the big challenge. It was of providing clean drinking water everywhere. It was needed in environments where traditional infrastructure is unavailable, unreliable, or compromised.
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How does the technology work?
It weighs around 25 pounds, and delivers up to 6 gallons (23 liters) per hour in seawater conditions. It can also deliver 13 gallons per hour in freshwater conditions. It consumes around 200 watts during operation. It has a battery that can provide around one hour of operation under typical seawater conditions. While using, people will just have to connect an intake hose to a water source and press a button to begin the process. Access is reportedly priced at $749.The product combines advanced engineering, and efficient manufacturing to produce and distribute fresh waste around the world. It can cater a range of customers, which includes campers, hikers, boat owners, sailors, and people living in areas that have limited access to clean drinking water.