How astronauts go to toilet in space and how NASA's Sunita Williams can maintain hygiene after being stuck on ISS for next 6 months
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Toilet Design on the ISS
The International Space Station (ISS) is equipped with specialized toilets designed to handle the unique challenges of zero gravity, where liquids do not flow but accumulate in floating globules.
Use of Suction Hoses
To counteract the lack of gravity, the ISS toilets use hoses that provide suction to remove fluids from the body. This ensures that waste is properly collected and does not float around the cabin.
Personal Attachments for Astronauts
Each astronaut has their own personal attachment for the toilet to maintain hygiene and ensure a proper fit for effective waste removal.
Maximum Absorbency Garments (MAGs)
During spacewalks or when a toilet is unavailable, astronauts wear Maximum Absorbency Garments (MAGs), which are essentially diapers designed to soak up waste. These are effective for short missions but can occasionally leak.
Challenges with MAGs
MAGs are suitable for brief periods, but their occasional leakage highlights the need for improved waste management solutions, especially for long-duration missions.
NASA’s Long-Term Waste Disposal Plans
NASA is working on developing a new suit that will allow astronauts to manage waste independently over longer periods. This innovation is crucial for future missions, including those beyond Earth’s orbit.
Historical Solutions During Moon Missions
During the Apollo moon missions, the all-male crew used "condom catheters" attached to the penis, which fed urine into a bag outside the spacesuit. These were a practical, albeit imperfect, solution.
Addressing Size and Leakage Issues
To avoid leakage, NASA offered the condom catheters in three sizes: small, medium, and large. However, astronauts often chose larger sizes, leading to leaks. To address this, NASA renamed the sizes to large, gigantic, and humongous to encourage the proper selection.
Need for Female-Specific Solutions
NASA has yet to develop an effective equivalent for female astronauts, a gap they are aiming to fill for future missions, such as the upcoming Orion missions. This highlights the ongoing evolution of space equipment to accommodate diverse crews.