New space toilet is literally open for business

William Atkins
Monday, 22 December 2008 20:18

Science - Space

The new Russian-made commode onboard the International Space Station is fully functioning except that the privacy curtain hasn’t been put up yet. Boy, that's one big step for mankind, but one immodest step for those crewmembers!



The new Russian-made commode onboard the International Space Station is fully functioning except that the privacy curtain hasn’t been put up yet.

Since November 2008 when it was uplifted to the Space Station by the space shuttle Endeavour (mission STS-126), the $19-million space toilet has been put together and installed, and now it is fully functioning.

The curtain to the commode, however, hasn’t been put up yet because other work on equipment located near to the toilet is still being performed.

So, nobody is using it right now until a little privacy is added to the accommodations.

The toilet, called by NASA as the waste and hygiene compartment (WHC), is a booth-like compartment that separates liquid waste from solid waste.

It is located in the U.S. laboratory onboard the ISS known as Destiny.

The Washington Post article “Living off the land in space” states, “The urinal can accommodate both males and females. The urinal assembly is a flexible hose with attachable funnels for males or females. It can be used in a standing position or can be attached to the commode by a pivoting mounting bracket for use in a sitting position.”

Learn more about doing your business in space by reading page two.