How Astronauts Go To The Bathroom In Space
Stephanie pappas fast forward to nasa s space shuttle program and astronauts finally had toilets.
How astronauts go to the bathroom in space. A mock up of the bathroom on the space shuttle at johnson space center in texas. When they re done the machine suctions up all the water droplets from their shower. These diapers are able to hold up to a quart. Astronauts go through positional training on earth to make sure solid waste goes directly into the narrow opening of these space toilets roberts explained.
How do astronauts go to the toilet. On the shuttle urine is handled differently than solid waste so it doesn t go through the 4 inch opening. The space toilets are far smaller than the toilets on earth so this sort of target practice was crucial to ensure that astronauts didn t accidentally turn the shuttle into a literal shit show. To provide a little privacy they extend the curtain of the wcs waste collection system the toilet or.
Going to the bathroom becomes even more challenging when astronauts take a walk outside their spacecraft. Because they can t simply drop their space suit and go astronauts typically use a superabsorbent adult diaper. The mock toilet has a camera at the. First class of women astronauts in 1978 the space shuttle program was only a few.
How to use the bathroom in space. Astronauts jump into a round curtained chamber to shower. Instead a long hose with suction power attaches beside the. Things have changed and nowadays there are shower units on the international space station.
Astronauts in spacesuits go to the bathroom in high tech diapers called maximum absorption garments but the international space station use a 19 million dollar toilet that uses suction for pooping in plastic bags and in a hose for urine that s recycled into drinking water to be used by the crew. How the space toilet works. How they managed to go is the most common question astronauts are asked says mike mullane a veteran of three space shuttle missions and author of do your ears pop in space and 500 other.