Space toilet for the ISS

NASA has developed a new toilet system for the International Space Station (ISS): the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS). The innovative space toilet was transported to the ISS on September 29, 2020, as part of Northrop Grumman’s 14th supply mission. It costs a whopping $23 million.

The new UWMS offers significant improvements over its predecessor. It is 65% smaller and 40% lighter. Moreover, it was developed specifically based on feedback from astronauts. It provides better odor control thanks to an automatic airflow when the lid is opened. Astronauts secure themselves with foot and hand straps, while a special funnel and negative pressure ensure that urine and feces remain reliably in the system.

A key advantage of the new system is improved water recovery from waste products. Already, around 90% of all liquids – including urine and sweat – have been recycled on the ISS. NASA astronaut Jessica Meir summed it up: “Today’s coffee is tomorrow’s coffee.”

The UWMS is also designed for the Artemis moon mission. Thanks to its universal design, it can be used flexibly – both with and without liquid recovery. If it proves itself, it will also be used for long-term moon missions.

NASA’s new space toilet is therefore not only a comfort gain for astronauts, but also an important step towards sustainable resource use in space travel.

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Source: https://winfuture.de/news,118536.html

Photo: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/elektrische-lampe-uber-schwarzem-hintergrund-256152/