[Paul H.]

How are astronauts' bodily wastes handled or 'disposed of' when orbiting?

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Name : Paul H., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Presbyterian, Age : 39, City : Jacksonville, State : FL Country : United States, Occupation : retired, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Ann L. Lowenstein]

Their spacesuits have a kind of diaper set-up, and the shuttles/space stations/etc. have vacuum pumps; both of which have a storage container that is emptied externally - I would assume back on the ground for the spacesuit model, but who knows for the other two... Actually, things are way more civilized than in the early days of the space program, when the astronauts were catheterized. Ew.

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[C20802]

The current system NASA uses involves a Zero G toilet. One has to strap him/herself to the seat. Vacuum pressure moves the waste with a cleanser agent, similar to the 'blue stuff' on airplane toilets, through valves to a bilge, which is a fancy word for collection tank. For liquid waste each astronaut has his own private collector, like a funnel that attaches to a vacuum hose. The collector is shaped different for men vs women and is custom-made to fit the pelvic area of that person. For obvious reasons the system has check valves to prevent backup. The sink is a plastic bubble that the user places hands into, foot pedals operate the water and soap, and vacuum pressure moves that waste water into collection bilges. The bilge is blown overboard prior to re-entry. Don't worry about falling waste from orbit, it ices then burns up on re-entry

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[georgew]

it was in the news recently that urine on the space station is now being recycled into fresh water. i don't recall the process how it being done. ick!

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