As you likely know by now, humankind has sent people towards the moon again after a gap of over 50 years. And it’s exciting! I’m excited! And you know what else that means: for the first time in over 50 years, humans will be doing that most universally human of things – voiding bladders and bowels – in the vicinity of the moon. And that means a space toilet. I’ve talked about the remarkable space toilet in use on the Orion spacecraft before, but it just faced its first crisis, and while I’m happy to say it emerged victorious, it’s still a good reminder of just how complicated peeing and pooping in space really is.
The toilet, or, as NASA likes to call it, the Waste Management System (WMS), is an all-new design that is parsecs better than the old bag-stuck-to-your-ass system the Apollo missions used. The new space toilet even has its own enclosed compartment, which should make space travel vastly more appealing to that segment of the population who feels uncomfortable taking a complex, engrossing dump into a plastic bag mere feet away from two to three other people while in a room the size of a delivery van.
You can see the location of the WMS and its little compartment here in this diagram, labeled WMS:
So what went wrong, exactly? It all started when Mission Specialist Christina Koch (her middle name, by the way, is “Hammock,” which I think is pretty great) noted a fault light for the WMS at about an hour of elapsed mission time. The fault light referred to an issue with the toilet fan of the system, which is crucial for urine intake.
NASA spokesperson Gary Jordan, commenting on the mission in NASA’s live feed:
“The toilet fan is reported to be jammed. Now the ground teams are coming up with instructions on how to get into the fan and clear that area to revive the toilet for the mission.”
Without the fan working, the toilet could still be used for nice, solid stools, but not liquid wastes, which is, of course, a problem. But this is NASA, remember, so there’s always a backup.
Mission control responded to Koch on the mission broadcast that:
“…for toilet, were going to have to think about it for a while. For now there are CCUs in alpha 2.”
During 2014 – 2016, NASA pursued the updated development of compact, lightweight, collapsible, passive urine collection devices for use aboard spacecraft. New unisex device designs were sought that would allow in part for simple, clean, single- and multiple-void contributions providing local storage, accurate volumetric measures of urine contributed (in the manner of a graduated cylinder on earth), vent to space or processing equipment, and service as contingency in the event of primary toilet failure. Despite the banality of such systems on earth, the weightless environment aboard orbit or coast spacecraft poses several significant challenges that have been known to the aerospace community for ages.Heritage systems suffer a variety of nuisances including un-optimized ergonomics, hygienics, backflows, re-use limitations, and mass penalties. In short, such a device must account for the low-g passive control of a perturbed transitional motive liquid jet breaking up into a droplet-laden two-phase flow that ingests bubbles on impact within a poorly wetted complex flexible container geometry for the contaminated surfactant-rich poorly wetting urine.”
That’s what the CCU looks like; I haven’t found a clear picture about how much these collapse, but it looks like they just get nice and flat. They have male and female adapters, and this seems like a pretty sophisticated bag to piss in.
Luckily, it doesn’t appear that the crew needed to pee in the bags, though, as the fan fault was eventually resolved, rendering the WMS fully functional once again.
It appeared that the issue was with the fan controller – presumably an electronic system that manages the fan’s operation – and while I’m not entirely clear just how it was fixed, it was, leading to Mission Control Capcom Amy Dill to tell the crew:
“Happy to report that toilet is go for use. We do recommend letting the system get to operating speed before donating fluid, and then letting it run a little bit after donation.”
Yes, donation. Donating fluid. What a great euphemism for peeing. I’m going to start using that, letting people know I’ll be making a substantial donation to the city’s hydrological infrastructure. I’m a multiple donor to the cause. I wonder if I can claim these donations on my taxes?
At least one CCU was utilized for, um, a donation, and there are plans to dump the contents of the bag outside of the ship, which will likely cause the urine to form ice crystals, creating the spectacular Constellation Urion.
Personally, I rarely defecate without simultaneously urinating, so I would be especially happy to have the WMS fixed were I on Orion. Does anyone do that? Take a totally dry dump? I should ask around.
I’m just happy the new space toilet is operating well, and I look forward to more comprehensive crew reports about the system’s performance. I hope they get to take many comfortable and inspirational dumps further from Earth than any humans have before.
Top graphic image: NASA
This is NASA they used a rocket powered plunger.
Jason, you have the most vibrant, colorful descriptions for shitting.
Can you kids just hold it a few more minutes till we get there? And stop asking ‘Are we there yet’
Do we think she was being cute using the word “donation” or is that official NASA terminology? Wouldn’t be surprised either way.
Also, that mock-up looks like it takes a huge amount of real estate in the capsule. I would have thought it would be just the bowl with some curtains/collapsable walls.
Not if they also want to supply gas masks for the rest of the crew
Not to be too crude, but the Apollo missions seemed to go ok. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen collapsible room setups on other spacecraft too.
“dry dump” lmao
You know what they say about shit and fans proximate to each other other.
“Complex, engrossing dump into a plastic bag mere feet away from two to three other people while in a room the size of a delivery van.”
Thus is living in a SPACE van, down by the MOON river!
“while eating government cheese!”
Perturbed Transitional Motive Liquid Jet is the name of my Ska band
Thank you, Torch, for this important update. I had not actually heard about the shitter going down. This is truly the only site I need to keep up to date on the world’s events.
Actually, this is an off-world event.
I love supporting a website that covers the important hard hitting content.
Well if a bag of poop were to fall back into the earth’s gravity well it would have a velocity of 25,000 mph at minimum. So that could hit pretty hard.
Aha! An opportunity to update my favorite middle school joke:
What do the starship Enterprise, a wad of toilet paper, and the Artemis WMS have in common?
They all circle Uranus looking for Klingons.
I saw the headline about the WMS early this morning on my news feed. I thought to myself, “Torch will have an article about this today.”
Yep. Glad I waited for your authoritative reporting rather than wasting (heh) time on a lesser journo.
I was going to make a similar comment, but you beat me to it. Jason’s reporting on subjects such as this go way beyond the usual crap from the major news outlets, and delve directly into the good shit.
The only intentional joke in 2001 a space Odyssey was the wordless shot of Dr. Floyd reading the instructions and trying to figure out the zero gravity toilet on his trip from earth to the moon.
Life imitates Art
(Again).
ZERO GRAVITY TOILET
PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO
READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE
The toilet is of the standard zero-gravity type. Depending on requirements, System A and/or System B can be used, details of which are clearly marked in the toilet compartment. When operating System A, depress lever and a plastic dalkron eliminator will be dispensed through the slot immediately underneath. When you have fastened the adhesive lip, attach connection marked by the large “X” outlet hose. Twist the silver coloured ring one inch below the connection point until you feel it lock.
The toilet is now ready for use. The Sonovac cleanser is activated by the small switch on the lip. When securing, twist the ring back to its initial-condition, so that the two orange line meet. Disconnect. Place the dalkron eliminator in the vacuum receptacle to the rear. Activate by pressing the blue button.
The controls for System B are located on the opposite wall. The red release switch places the uroliminator into position; it can be adjusted manually up or down by pressing the blue manual release button. The opening is self adjusting. To secure after use, press the green button which simultaneously activates the evaporator and returns the uroliminator to its storage position.
You may leave the lavatory if the green exit light is on over the door. If the red light is illuminated, one of the lavatory facilities is not properly secured. Press the “Stewardess” call button on the right of the door. She will secure all facilities from her controll panel outside. When gren exit light goes on you may open the door and leave. Please close the door behind you.
To use the Sonoshower, first undress and place all your clothes in the clothes rack. Put on the velcro slippers located in the cabinet immediately below. Enter the shower. On the control panel to your upper right upon entering you will see a “Shower seal” button. Press to activate. A green light will then be illuminated immediately below. On the intensity knob select the desired setting. Now depress the Sonovac activation lever. Bathe normally.
The Sonovac will automatically go off after three minutes unless you activate the “Manual off” over-ride switch by flipping it up. When you are ready to leave, press the blue “Shower seal” release button. The door will open and you may leave. Please remove the velcro slippers and place them in their container.
If the red light above this panel is on, the toilet is in use. When the green light is illuminated you may enter. However, you must carefully follow all instructions when using the facilities duting coasting (Zero G) flight. Inside there are three facilities: (1) the Sonowasher, (2) the Sonoshower, (3) the toilet. All three are designed to be used under weightless conditions. Please observe the sequence of operations for each individual facility.
Two modes for Sonowashing your face and hands are available, the “moist-towel” mode and the “Sonovac” ultrasonic cleaner mode. You may select either mode by moving the appropriate lever to the “Activate” position.
If you choose the “moist-towel” mode, depress the indicated yellow button and withdraw item. When you have finished, discard the towel in the vacuum dispenser, holding the indicated lever in the “active” position until the green light goes on…showing that the rollers have passed the towel completely into the dispenser. If you desire an additional towel, press the yellow button and repeat the cycle.
If you prefer the “Sonovac” ultrasonic cleaning mode, press the indicated blue button. When the twin panels open, pull forward by rings A & B. For cleaning the hands, use in this position. Set the timer to positions 10, 20, 30 or 40…indicative of the number of seconds required. The knob to the left, just below the blue light, has three settings, low, medium or high. For normal use, the medium setting is suggested.
After these settings have been made, you can activate the device by switching to the “ON” position the clearly marked red switch. If during the washing operation, you wish to change the settings, place the “manual off” over-ride switch in the “OFF” position. you may now make the change and repeat the cycle.
I watched the live feed and I know I heard an astronaut say “Shitter’s full” 😉
I just don’t get it. We were all born with not only the ability to donate fluid and make bricks for the brick house. So why are we already to shy to do it as grown ups?
They’re engineers. No doubt in a pinch, they could work things out with a pencil. Or in NASA’s case, maybe Fisher Space Pen.
Guy goes to the doctor and sees him trying to write with a thermometer. He points it out, and the doctor replies, “damn, now some asshole has my pen!”
This is like your Superbowl isn’t it?
donation? “it’s called dropping the kids off at the pool”
“In short, such a device must account for the low-g passive control of a perturbed transitional motive liquid jet breaking up into a droplet-laden two-phase flow that ingests bubbles on impact within a poorly wetted complex flexible container geometry for the contaminated surfactant-rich poorly wetting urine.”
Jesus H Christ on a stick, NASA is the final boss of corporate gobbledygook language. I’m just glad they had the bandwidth to avoid having to circle back on this issue once the craft returned to Earth.
But, as scientists go, they’re the shit.
No, that’s not gobbledygook, its Enginerd speak. And quite an impressive example too. Unlike corporate jargon that’s meant to dodge around actual meaning and inflate otherwise straightforward comments, Enginerd attempts to be as usefully descriptive as possible in as few words as practicable.
A longer form translation would be something along the lines of:
“low-g” = critical parameter for fluid calculations, as fluids behave quite differently in the absence of normal gravity
“passive control” = no electronics allowed. Reduces weight, risk, and system complexity
“perturbed” = non-uniform flow, in this context indicates vortex shedding and varying surface tension
“transitional” = flow is in the process of proceeding from laminar to turbulent, Reynolds number of 2000-4000
“motive liquid jet” = a liquid-phase jet (as opposed to a gas jet) that is not stationary in the frame of reference
“breaking up into a droplet laden two-phase flow” = the aforementioned jet is degenerating into a mixed stream of gas and liquid, with high droplet concentration. Like if you blasted a steaming tea kettle onto a cold window.
“that ingests bubbles on impact within a poorly wetted” = the device must be capable of quickly absorbing bubbles of liquid without relying on surface tension effects
“complex flexible container geometry” = we can’t rely on shapes to solve our problems, as they are both complicated and changing, so it’s gonna be pure materials science on this one
“contaminated surfactant-rich poorly wetting urine” = compared to a lot of other materials that commonly get absorbed, urine is actually quite difficult to deal with as it’s mixed with things that tend to inhibit absorption.
TL;DR: Piss bags in space are also rocket science.
Gawd, I love the comments section on this site….
Bag must account for pee spray back. Just say that for Christ’s sake lol
The term “Rigid Human Interface” is making me uncomfortable.
Your mom’s a rigid human interface.
No that’s your dad, mom is a encompassing human interface
You are technically correct, the best kind of correct
When you have to reboot your toilet…
worst fleshlight ever.
I remember talk that they were eating brisket last night for their first meal in space. Honestly, stress testing the toilet on the first day was a bold choice.
A real stress test would be a Chipotle Chicken al Pastor bowl with extra hot sauce…. Come to think of it, that should really be the acceptance test of all future NASA space toilets.
I think it was an entire bucket of golf balls. Which makes me think… are there people that eat that many golf balls? Maybe I should google that…
NOPE, NOPE, NOPE. Do NOT google why some people end up passing 100 golf-balls in a single sitting. That’s nightmare fuel.
Hey, at least they did not launch on Taco Tuesday!
Better than a crew of Russian Kosmonauts and their heavy potato based diet.
Now I want a Spudnut.
I lived in Richland WA for a while, one of the last Spudnut doughnut places left is there. The doughnuts are made out of potato flour.
These things are the definition of “I bet you can’t eat just one.” As in a single doughnut will serve a family of 4 and keep them full for 5 hours. They are really tasty, but I think there’s about 3 pounds of potato in each one.
They are the opposite of Krispy Kream where you can inhale an entire dozen of hot doughnuts and start licking the box before your body tells you that you just had your yearly allowance of fat and sugar in less than 5 minutes. With Spudnuts, you KNOW you are eating a lot in each bite.