How do you take a loo in Space?

Taking a "loo" in space is quite different from using a toilet on Earth due to the absence of gravity. Here's how astronauts handle it:

Specialized Toilets: Spacecraft are equipped with specially designed toilets that use airflow to direct waste into the appropriate container. Since gravity doesn't pull waste down, a strong suction system is employed to guide urine and feces into separate compartments.

Urine Collection: Astronauts use a funnel attached to a hose for urination. This funnel is connected to a vacuum system that sucks the urine away. The collected urine is often processed and recycled into drinking water aboard the spacecraft.

Solid Waste Disposal: For defecation, astronauts use a toilet seat with leg restraints and thigh bars to keep themselves in place. The toilet has a vacuum system that draws the waste into a container. The waste is then sealed and stored for disposal when the spacecraft returns to Earth or burned up in the atmosphere.

Hygiene: Astronauts use wet wipes for cleaning themselves after using the toilet, as there's no running water. Hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of bacteria in the confined space of a spacecraft.

The entire process requires careful management to ensure comfort, hygiene, and the proper functioning of the spacecraft's life-support systems.
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Kokila Chokkanathan

29/08/2024 06:23 PM