NASA
or US space agency have launched and sent a brand new space toilets or toilet
system to International Space Station or ISS last September 29,2020, as the
news said. The toilet system cost $23 million with new or enhanced features
compared to those who are already on the ISS.
The
new toilet system is designed to better manage urine and feces or fecal
matter. The urine is being recycle into a drinking water while the feces are
stored and sent to Earth. The toilet is said to use or using a strong airflow
to counter the urine and feces floating on space or to help the waste matters
put or pull into the toilet system.
The
new toilet system, according to the news is to be also use for future space
missions to planet Mars and also on the Moon.
“The $23 million toilet system, known as the Universal
Waste Management System (UWMS), is 65% smaller and 40%
lighter than the toilet currently in use on the space station, and can support
larger crews. The toilet will launch to the space station aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo capsule on
Sept. 29, as part of a routine resupply mission.” (Space)
“Once on
the space station, astronauts will test how the new toilet performs in the
microgravity environment on the station. The system will be installed adjacent
to the current toilet in Node 3 of the space station,….”
(Space)
“ The space
toilet's advanced design includes a urine funnel and seat that is created to be
more accommodating for female crew members. It also features a 3D-printed
titanium dual fan separator, which was developed by Collins Aerospace and
creates a strong airflow that, in lieu of gravity, helps to pull the
astronauts’ urine and waste into the toilet. The titanium design also
improves upon the existing pretreat system used to collect and treat astronauts' urine before it is processed and recycled
for reclaimed water.” (Space)
“The UWMS
measures roughly 28 inches (71 centimeters) tall, which is comparable to the
compact toilets used on campers, McKinley said during the conference. The
toilet also has an automatic starting system, rather than an on and off switch like
current toilet models on the space station. The new
system will be used routinely by the crew on the space station and tested over
the next three years to make sure everything works as planned. Prior to launch,
the system was tested in environments designed to simulate that of the space
station, NASA officials have said.” (Space)
The main
point : Astronauts in space station are not spare from what us humans do
everyday on the planet that is flushing out waste matters like urine and feces;
but in an environment without gravity or less gravity how can one flush out it
without floating in space – that is the new toilet system sent to International
Space Station(ISS) making waste management in space station at ease. The new
toilet system sent by NASA cost $23 million.
Space Toilet (image from Space website) |
Space Toilet (image from Inquirer website) |
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