AFWERX innovation transitions from fighter cockpits to NASA spaceflight

Published July 10, 2026
By Matthew Clouse
Air Force Research Laboratory

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — -- A quality-of-life system originally developed to support military aviators has expanded beyond the cockpit and into orbit, demonstrating how AFWERX accelerated an operational need into a solution that now supports both Airmen and NASA astronauts.

Through its Sky High Relief Challenge, AFWERX transitioned the Airion Advanced Inflight Relief Universal System (AIRUS) from concept to operational use for military pilots. The same capability launched on Feb. 13, 2026, aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station as a technology demonstration, marking the first time the agency used the system during an operational spaceflight and underscoring how Air Force-driven innovation can scale across domains.
Prior to launch, NASA evaluated the system at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, working alongside medical and engineering teams. Officials said the accessories are suitable for both male and female crew members and described AIRUS as a new technology designed to improve comfort and functionality during long-duration human exploration and science missions.

The effort shows how AFWERX, a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Technology Transition Office, connects operators with private-sector developers to move solutions from prototype to operational use.

The transition to space built on work that began within military aviation. For years, many in-flight relief systems were designed primarily for men and did not adequately meet the needs of female fighter pilots, creating discomfort and avoidable distractions during extended sorties.

Capt. Madeleine Poisson, an F-15E Strike Eagle weapons systems officer with the 48th Fighter Wing who supported operational testing and flight trials, said the issue was widely recognized among female aviators.

“I actually remember when I was going through my B-course basic qualification for the F-15, it was a very common problem, and it was acknowledged even by our instructors that many women did not know how to relieve themselves in the jet,” Poisson said.

She said the lack of practical options sometimes forced pilots to delay hydration or endure long flights without relief.

“The problem was so significant that the first time I deployed, one of my coworkers used the bathroom in the jet for the first time during an eight-hour flight from Hawaii to Idaho, which is not the ideal time to figure that out,” she said.

To address the gap, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center partnered with the AFWERX Challenge program in 2020 to identify a safer, more effective solution usable by all aircrew members, regardless of gender. More than 50 companies submitted proposals during the Challenge.

“The goal of each Challenge is not just to generate ideas, but to deliver solutions that improve readiness, effectiveness and quality of life for Airmen and Guardians,” said Cayley Dymond, AFWERX Challenge team lead. “We bring together government experts, industry partners and end users to review concepts and advance promising solutions quickly. That collaboration helps us move faster than traditional acquisition and get real capability to the warfighter.”

AIRUS advanced through evaluations and flight testing. The wearable system uses aerospace-grade materials and thermal regulation technology and incorporates feedback from pilots, medical professionals and engineers. Testing began in December 2023 with AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Air Combat Command at Seymour Johnson and Eglin Air Force bases. Results showed the system met safety and performance requirements, leading to its transition as an operational product and availability for government purchase through GSA Advantag e!

“Knowing there is now a product made with us in mind that simplifies the process means we can stay cleaner, it’s more sanitary, and the overall ease of use is much improved compared to what we’ve had,” Poisson said. “I think it will also help break down barriers and make it more accessible, so women aren’t delaying use during long flights.”

Male fighter pilots are also using the AIRUS system. Capt. Charles Boynton, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, said the system has helped simplify waste management during extended flights.

"During training, people joked that learning how to relieve yourself in the jet should be a required skill, but it quickly became clear how important it is on long sorties," Boynton said. "For many pilots, managing waste during multi-hour flights has always been part of the job. In my experience, this system made that process more manageable by reducing the need to carry multiple collection bags and making it easier to use during extended missions."

For AFWERX, the system’s path from cockpit to spaceflight illustrates its broader mission of transforming commercial technologies into operational advantage while strengthening the defense industrial base.

Since 2018, AFWERX has hosted 57 Challenges, received more than 8,000 proposed solutions and awarded $245 million for prototype development, accelerating the delivery of mission-ready capabilities for Airmen, Guardians and now astronauts. To learn more about the Challenge program and get involved, visit afwerxchallenge.com.

About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

About AFWERX
AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a division within the Air Force Research Laboratory, partners with small businesses, startups and nontraditional vendors to address challenges facing Airmen and Guardians. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, AFWERX strengthens the defense industrial base by expanding access to innovators, building partnerships and accelerating the transition of critical technologies to operational capability. In fiscal year 2025, AFWERX awarded more than 1,000 contracts totaling $1.37 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion. For more information, visit afwerx.com.