rjnoe@ihlts.UUCP (Roger Noe) (08/31/84)
> the toilet seems to be THE component that fails most often Probably true, mainly because it's something that media people can understand. Therefore they don't hesitate to inform us whenever the potty's broken. It isn't new to the shuttle program, though. I think they also had problems aboard Skylab. > HOW does one handle certain, ahem, bodily functions in space? > I would think that [microgravity] would pose some interesting problems > Also, what do the astronauts do when the toilet breaks? > George Verbosh, Perkin-Elmer, 106 Apple St., Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Gosh, George, I think Miss Manners should be the one to whom you address these questions. But since she isn't on the net (to my knowledge), I think I'll answer. The commode works by air flow. Fans move the, uh, right stuff into revolving blades where it gets pureed and saved until the orbiter lands. Then it is removed, much like in jetliners. Have you ever wondered what those dozen or so trucks are doing around the orbiter shortly after landing, but before the astronauts are allowed to egress? That's right, disposing of some deadly vapors. You can probably imagine what six adults can do in a week. If you can, you should seek help. (OK, some of those noxious fumes are actually from hydrazine.) One of the problems with the commodes was that the fans were too powerful, and this caused the, ahem, right stuff to return into the cabin (where it became the wrong stuff). Definitely a case of the shit hitting the fan. (Sorry, I just couldn't pass up that one.) Elimination of liquids is accomplished by suction also. The astronaut places a receptacle (which fits either body type) over the appropriate appendage. The receptacle is connected to a hose, which sucks away the liquid. Now, I know what you're thinking and I really don't think the suction is strong enough to be - shall we say - interesting. Anyway, the liquid is periodically vented to space (not during an EVA, I hope) where it makes pretty crystals. Speaking of things periodical, you might be interested in a story I heard about accomodations for the first U.S. women astronauts. NASA decided that each female astronaut would have a certain number (no, I don't remember, but I can look it up) of tampons in her government-issued personal gear. It took the astronaut candidates themselves (as I heard it) to notice that when you opened the box to use one, all the tampons would float away. Needless to say, this would not be desirable. So they had tampons manufactured all on one long string. When the astronaut needs to use one, she cuts one off the end with her scissors. I suppose that women who wish to use pads rather than tampons simply can't be astronauts. Anyway, back to the main subject. If the commode fails, the astronauts return to the method used on other space flights. NASA has a long, technical name for this, complete with acronym, that is something like Personally Handled Elimination of Waste (PHEW). No, I really forgot what the name was but I do know essentially what the method is. Large baggies. Can you imagine what fun teenagers could have on Halloween with those? -- "It's only by NOT taking the human race seriously that I retain what fragments of my once considerable mental powers I still possess." Roger Noe ihnp4!ihlts!rjnoe
inc@fluke.UUCP (Gary Benson) (08/31/84)
I've often wondered, too. I seem to recall an article many years ago that
described the liquid waste system for males as sort of a condom with a
rubber tube but have no idea of how the valves or pumps would operate.
As to solids -- my word! I can sort of picture the collector, but can't
imagine it would be very comfortable. Perhaps it's only inserted when needed?
And even with this speculation, I still can't think of how a female liquid
system would operate. Complicated.
Can someone in the know provide the straight poop? I don't think there's
really a need to rotate or be worried about senstitivities -- this is all in
the interest of science, right?
As an aside -- at an Air Show last year, I saw the SR-71, and plainly recall
a plate on the underbelly which was about 25 x 25 cm attached with 6 screws
and plainly labeled, "Pilot Waste Removal".
--
Gary Benson ms232e -*- John Fluke Mfg Co -*- Box C9090 -*- Everett WA 98206 USA
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duetotheshortageofrobotsallourworkersarehumanandmayreactunpredictablywhenabuseddave@rocksvax.UUCP (09/03/84)
I heard they played brown astroroids when the potty failed....
----
Dave
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