How do Astronauts go to the bathroom in Space?
How do astronauts go to the bathroom in space?
In space, using the bathroom is a bit more complicated than on Earth. Without gravity, loose waste could float away, which is bad for both astronaut health and the sensitive equipment on the space station. Originally, astronauts had to use thigh straps to sit on a small toilet and keep a tight seal between their bottoms and the toilet seat. However, this was difficult to use and keep clean.
In 2018, NASA spent $23 million on a new vacuum toilet designed specifically for use in zero gravity. The toilet has a hose with a funnel for peeing and a small raised seat for pooping. Handholds and footholds are provided to prevent drifting. To use the toilet, astronauts must hold the funnel and hose tightly against their skin to prevent leakage. As soon as the toilet lid is lifted, suction begins to control odour and prevent waste from drifting away. Pee is recycled into drinkable water, while poop is typically burned along with other waste and sent back to Earth in cargo ships.
In space, astronauts face a unique challenge when it comes to going to the bathroom. Unlike on Earth, gravity cannot simply pull waste away from their bodies. This poses a risk not only to the astronauts' health but also to the sensitive equipment aboard the International Space Station. To solve this problem, astronauts use a specially designed toilet that relies on suction to prevent any loose drops or dribbles from escaping.
The first American in space, Alan Shepard, did not have a toilet available during his mission in 1961, and had to pee inside his spacesuit. Nowadays, the space station has a toilet that was originally designed for men in 2000, but proved difficult for women to use. To use the toilet, astronauts have to strap themselves in to keep a tight seal and prevent any waste from escaping. While it is not a perfect solution, it allows astronauts to take care of their bodily needs while on space missions.
In 2018, NASA invested $23 million in a new vacuum toilet system for astronauts aboard the International Space Station. This new design addresses the challenges of zero-gravity bathroom breaks with a funnel-equipped hose for urination and a small raised seat for defecation. The toilet's interior includes strategically placed handholds and footholds to prevent drifting during use. Astronauts must hold the hose or funnel tightly against their skin to avoid any leaks during urination. To ensure a tight seal during defecation, the toilet begins suctioning immediately upon lifting the seat, preventing any waste from drifting and controlling unpleasant odours. The seat is designed to be smaller than a typical Earth toilet to maintain a better seal between the astronaut's body and the seat.
So lets talk number 1's and number 2's
More than 90% of urine is water, which is heavy and takes up a lot of space. As a result, it is more practical for astronauts to recycle urine than to transport clean water from Earth. All astronaut urine is collected and processed into potable water. Astronauts even joke that “Today’s coffee is tomorrow’s coffee!”
Although on occasion, faecal matter is transported back to Earth for scientific investigation, the majority of bathroom waste, including faeces, is incinerated. Astronauts vacuum waste into bags, which are sealed and placed into airtight containers. These containers are then loaded onto a cargo spacecraft that brought supplies to the space station, which is subsequently launched towards Earth and burnt up in the upper atmosphere.
If you have ever observed a shooting star, it may have been a meteorite burning up in Earth’s atmosphere, or possibly even burning astronaut faecal matter. Additionally, the next time you have to urinate or defecate, consider yourself fortunate to have the assistance of gravity.
