How Do Astronauts Use the Bathroom in Space? From Urine Collection Systems to Suction Toilets

SPACE — Many manned space missions have been carried out. What if an astronaut needs to urinate while in space?

“Do it in your spacesuit.”

That’s what Alan Shepherd, the first American in space, heard on May 5, 1961, when he told the team on the launch pad that he needed to pee. Shepherd did as instructed. He urinated inside his spacesuit, which caused his electronic biocircuit sensors to malfunction.

Shepherd’s spacesuit is not equipped with a urine collection system because the mission is not expected to last long enough for him to need to urinate.

The American Space Agency (NASA) took no such risks with John Glenn’s mission into space during the first Mercury orbital flight on February 20, 1962. Glenn’s spacesuit was equipped with a urine collection system.

The urine collection system functions as a wearable restraint belt, latex rolling cuff, plastic tube, valve and clip, and plastic collection bag, which would influence the systems used by male astronauts throughout the space shuttle program. In fact, Glenn’s urine collection system is so historic that it has been on public display at the National Air and Space Museum since 1976.

Since Mercury’s orbital flight and the space shuttle program, stays in space have become longer. In fact, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) stay up to six months.

Now, a new era of extended space stays has arrived. This means astronauts can’t walk around in wet or dirty underwear or connected to rubber hoses. This has prompted efforts to design and build space toilets to fulfill basic human needs in space while considering utility and comfort.

How do toilets work in space?
Toilets on Earth have various forms depending on culture and geographic location. But one single principle applies to all toilets on earth: waste disposal relies on gravity.

The microgravity experienced in space can make the process of disposing of human waste more difficult and even dangerous. The lack of gravity means feces could float from the space-based toilet.

Not only is this dangerous for astronauts’ health, but if this happened aboard the ISS or another space station, the free-floating waste could damage sensitive equipment.

This means rather than relying on gravity to remove waste, toilets on the ISS and spacecraft use suction and airflow. According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), apart from using suction, astronauts on the space shuttle must tie themselves to the toilet when they carry out their activities.

Microgravity is contrasted with a number of handrails and footrests that ensure astronauts won’t float off the toilet at a critical moment. When urinating, astronauts hold the suction funnel against their skin to prevent leakage. When the toilet lid is lifted to pass solid waste, suction begins immediately to reduce odors.

2024-03-04 23:30:00
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