New Toilet System Cost $23 Million Sent To ISS

 

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)