NASA Purchases $19M Russian Space Toilet

Gary writes "NASA has paid $19 million for a Russian-built international space station toilet system. The toilet system, similar to the one already in use in the station's Zvezda Service Module, is scheduled to arrive at the space station in 2008 and will offer more privacy for a crew expected to double from three to six by 2009. The space station toilet physically resembles those used on Earth, except it has leg restraints and thigh bars to keep astronauts and cosmonauts from floating away. NASA says purchasing the multi million dollar toilet is a bargain compared to developing one from scratch."

Comments

Wow!

[morgan_greywolf]

I didn't realize that NASA was so flush with cash!

*drum fill*

I'm here all week!

Re:Wow!

[speaker of the truth]

Yeah, but we don't want to take the piss.

Re:Wow!

[pklong]

So if you buy this the shit will hit the fan routinely?

If you need restraints...

[vigmeister]

I know these are probably tasteless questions, but...

1) Is there some sort of mechanism to ensure that Mr. Hanky the poo goes into the bowl?
2) Can male astronauts pee standing up in this toilet?

Cheers!

Re:If you need restraints...

[michrech]

regarding standing up...

It seems to me you'd want to minimise leakage. On earth spattering the surroundings is an annoyance [1], in space it can be catastrophic. Why take the chance?

1: that said, I've never understood why so many men insist on peeing standing up, when it's cleaner, more comfortable and doesn't cost more time to sit down. It *does* take more time. If I can just hang "mini me" out the front of my pants (though my zipper, in the case that I'm at work and in work clothing), or pull down the top of my shorts (in case I'm pretty much anywhere else), why would I want to pull everything down, sit down for the few seconds it takes, stand back up, pull up my pants, tuck in my shirts (in the case that I'm at work), etc?

It's just easier and quicker to aim properly.

'course, you being female, I should have expected you not to understand.

To speak on sitting down being "cleaner". I never have a problem with a messy toilet/floor. I hate it when I got into the bathroom at work, walk up to the urinal, and have to step around those lazy asses pee dribbles. It's like they can't be bothered to hang their junk two more inches closer to the bowl. I know if I can do it, they ought to be able to. At home, I aim at the bowl, not the seat, so I don't have problems there either. I don't know what it is with some guys. Sometimes I think they should be *required* to just go outside.

Going #2

[DigiShaman]

Brings new meaning to a "floater".

$19 million for a toilet?!

[Rik Sweeney]

I think NASA got a shitty deal there...

oblig.

[Rob T Firefly]

It's a crap!

It could be a bargain

[Albanach]

I guess it could be a real bargain if the $19M includes delivery and installation.

Too Expensive For Home Use

[organgtool]

It's a shame it costs $19 million. I've had nights after a few too many bean burritos where a toilet with leg restraints that kept me from flying off would have been very useful.

but where...

[jjeffries]

Where is the little shelf where they keep the three seashells?

What about the up or down lid controversy?

[lena_10326]

That still hold in outer space? Given that up and down is difficult to determine...

Boldly going

[hcdejong]

Captain's log, September 29th, 2007...