Astronauts assigned to the ISS and scheduled to return to Earth with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft at the beginning of November were asked not to use the toilet.
The flight will include NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Meghan McArthur, as well as Akihiko Hoshide of the Japanese Space Agency and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency.
SpaceX, the space company that Musk is the CEO and founder of, announced that there was a urine leak in the toilet during the Inspiration4 flight held in September. SpaceX had redesigned the toilets to prevent leaks on future flights.
The astronauts had spent only one day inside the Endeavor capsule during their trip to the ISS in April, resulting in relatively little urine leakage. Its toilet has not yet been repaired, as the vehicle has been in orbit since then.
However, after a thorough check, the spacecraft was deemed completely safe for the return flight, as long as the toilet was not used.
Steve Stitch, director of NASA’s Commercial Crew program, told reporters: “Our intention is not to use the toilet system at all on the return leg due to the inconvenience we have witnessed” said.
On the other hand, according to Stitch, another method will be implemented to meet the crew’s toilet needs.
Astronauts will wear special underwear under their spacesuits to trap urine.
Source: The Independent
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