The evidently successful fix of a solar array-rotating gear and a recycling system that turns urine into a drinkable water have set the stage for the International Space Station to accept an additional six astronaut crews next year, NASA officials said Tuesday.

Mike Suffredini, the International Space Station Program Manager, said the in-space repairs by station and Endeavour Space Shuttle Astronauts to the Urine Recyclers and a massive starboard-side gear have put the orbiting laboratory on course to double the size of its current three-person crews.

“I would say we’re on the right track,” Suffredini said of the repairs, adding that Endeavour’s mission is capping a series of recent shuttle missions to expand the space station. “We’ve made a major step towards a six-person crew with just one flight.”

The Astronauts proudly displayed a batch of cleaned and recyled water to NASA television cameras on Tuesday.

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