38
HEALTH AND SANITATION
While the opportunity to stare into space while relieving oneself proved to be impractical , as the forward hatch had to be closed when it was in use , the toilet did gain notoriety for quite another reason after it set off an alarm alerting the crew to a problem with its suction fan . Working with ground-based controllers to troubleshoot the problem , it was determined there was no risk to the crew as biohazardous materials had not been released into the cabin .
SpaceX later disassembled the toilet and discovered that a tube used to funnel urine into a storage tank had become unglued . So , instead of being routed into the storage tank , urine had gone into the fan system and created a messy leak under the deck .
After greeting the Inspiration4 crew upon their return to earth , SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted that improvements in amenities for future civilian crews would definitely include an “ upgraded ” toilet , adding , “ We had difficulties with it during this flight .”
How Do Space Toilets Work ? A “ space ” or “ zero gravity ” toilet is one that can be used in a weightless environment . The difference between a space toilet and its terrestrial counterpart is that on earth gravity can be counted on to pull waste down and away from you , while in space it disperses in every direction , creating a hazard for both astronaut health and sensitive equipment .
To compensate for the lack of gravity in space , space toilets use air flow to direct the collection of waste and so typically contain four basic components :
A liquid waste vacuum tube consisting of a short rubber or plastic tube connecting a vacuum chamber to a suction-generating fan .
A vacuum chamber at the end of the waste vacuum tube with detachable urine receptacles designed to accommodate male or female anatomy .
Waste storage drawers where urine is pumped into and sometimes frozen for testing .
Solid waste collection tubes that allow solid waste as well as gas to be drawn in — but no solids or liquids — to pass through .
Beyond these basic components , modern space toilets can be very complex , and as a result have a tendency to malfunction . According to NASA astronaut Mike Fossum , needing to repair toilets in space is “ an ongoing maintenance thing ” he says occurs about once a month . Because of this , astronauts essentially have to become “ space plumbers ,” receiving extensive training in space toilet maintenance and repair before they qualify for launch .
Astronauts Depend on Depends After Alan Shepard sat atop a rocket for nearly five hours waiting to become America ’ s first astronaut in space , he felt the need to relieve himself and informed mission control , “ Man , I ’ ve got to pee .” Planning for a short flight and not anticipating the lengthy delay before take-off , NASA had neglected to make any provision for this . After studying the situation , mission control told him to go ahead and relieve himself inside his space suit .
Since then , astronauts have worn maximum absorbency garments ( MAGs ) — basically adult diapers made from high-absorbency materials — for waste management in space . They ’ re especially useful during the first two hours after lift-off when weightlessness redistributes fluids evenly throughout the body , creating an urgent need to urinate .
MAGs are also worn during landings , extra vehicular excursions ( EVAs ) or spacewalks , or as back-ups on any flight , which another SpaceX crew had to rely on during their return to earth .
Parked at ISS when Inspiration4 returned from its three-day orbital journey , the astronauts ’ capsule contained an identical toilet , so there were concerns that the same malfunction occurred . This proved to be true after the crew pulled up the cabin ’ s floor panels , revealing pools of urine beneath them . Since they couldn ’ t repair the system in space , SpaceX conducted ground tests to make sure the urine wasn ’ t excessively corrosive , and after assuring the crew they were in no danger , declared their space toilet officially “ out of order .”
Next issue we continue with “ A brief history of space toilets .” PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline August 2022 Volume 28 I Number 6