Washington: The US space agency NASA will spend $ 23 million about Rs 167.9 crore on the development of toilets for the convenience of astronauts. These toilets will be installed in the International Space Station. NASA will send these newly designed toilets into space on Thursday, 1 October.
These toilets have been designed keeping in mind the needs of women astronauts at the space station. The toilets are named Universal Waste Systems (UWMS). It is 65 % lighter and 40% smaller than the earlier toilets. The waste collection system created in the year 1990 is still used for astronauts.
The facilities behind the construction of new toilets had to take into account to cater the facilities of women astronauts. Earlier, astronauts could either urinate or defecate, but now both could work together. These features are present in the new system. The new design also requires less maintenance. Although it has become easier to pass stools than before, but its disposal still remains a problem. Now it is kept in airtight bags. After this, the cargo is sent back to the earth. On the other hand, urine is filtered and reused at the space station.
The early days spacecraft did not have toilets. In the year 1961, astronaut Alan Sheppard had to eliminate in his space suit. Earlier, plastic tubes were used for urination in the space station, but women passengers had to face a lot of problems in this. Due to lack of gravity at the space station, toilets were constructed keeping in mind the flow of air.
In a statement , NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Logistics Reduction project manager Melissa McKinley in a statement said, “The toilet was designed for exploration and it builds on previous spaceflight toilet design”. “The big key to the exploration piece of the design is looking to optimize mass volume and power usage, which are all very important components of a spacecraft design”, he added.
The NASA will test how the toilet works in the unique environment on the station. It will be installed alongside the current waste system in Node 3. Astronauts get all kinds of products sent to them for testing in space, including a space-friendly oven and cookie dough.
NASA intends to put the first woman on the moon by 2024. The toilet includes a urine funnel and seat that is designed with female crew members in mind, Space.com reported