Hw is the toilet in Columbia space shuttle
2006-10-07 13:50:27 · 5 answers · asked by mmnchacko 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
The space shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas 2003. :-(
"The current Space Shuttle Toilet, properly called the Waste Collection System (WCS), is a fully-integrated multi-function system. It is a flushing toilet - but it flushes with air, not water.
The WCS sits in its own tiny rest room in the middeck of the crew compartment. The room is about 75 cm wide, and so is the commode.
The astronauts are held on the commode/toilet by a bar across their thighs. As you know, NASA always has backups for everything. Here, the backup system to the bar is a set of four Velcro thigh straps. And of course, there are foot restraints as well.
The urinal works for both males and females. It's basically just a funnel attached to a flexible hose. It can be used whether you are sitting on the commode, or standing. The urine is drawn along by flowing air. The mixture of liquid and air from the urinal is carried to a rotating chamber. Centrifugal force throws the liquid to the outside, from where it travels to the waste water tank. So yes, the urine does hit a spinning circular object...
The commode seat is made of a contoured, compliant semi-soft material. Not only does it locate the user in the right position, but it also makes a good air seal with the buttocks of the astronaut. The hole for solid wastes is about 10 cm across.
When the toilet is in use, it has a continuous flow of cabin air whistling in through holes under the seat. This airflow of 850 litres per minute is essential to push the faeces toward the bottom of the toilet, because there is no gravity to make them drop. The airflow draws faeces from the commode into a porous bag. The bag is made of a multi-layer material that repels water. The bag traps solid wastes (including tissues), but lets the air through. It also stops any free liquids or bacteria from leaving as well.
Once astronauts have finished using the WCS, they open the valve and expose the contents to the vacuum of space. All solid wastes get instantly freeze-dried and de-odourised. They are then brought back to Earth for analysis and disposal."
2006-10-07 13:57:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
They either (for urine) put their genitalia into a yellow tube or (for feces) sit and strap in to a four inch tube. Both methods then put it through a vacuum. Urine goes into space and feces is stored onboard until a shuttle lands, at which point it burns up in Earth s atmosphere.
2015-12-17 02:17:03 · answer #2 · answered by jonathan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like a vacuum, and then to empty it gets shot out into space
check this out:
http://edspace.nasa.gov/livespace/gottago.html
http://www.hightechscience.org/zero_gravity_toilet.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s348188.htm
2006-10-07 13:51:40 · answer #3 · answered by Hannah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sophisticated step. try searching over a search engine. just that can assist!
2015-03-30 16:34:20 · answer #4 · answered by Bryan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IN THREE WORDS-IN SUCTION MECHANISM
2006-10-07 15:18:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋