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PETALING JAYA: He’s only nine years old, but Zyson Kang Zy Shun is the inventor of a next-generation device that NASA has been looking for to undertake its next mission to the moon.
Zyson, a SJK (C) Pin Hwa 1 third year student, Setia Alam, created the “Lunar Spacesuit Toilet”, fulfilling NASA’s mission report for a compact toilet that could operate in both microgravity and in lunar gravity.
The young inventor’s creation placed him in first place in NASA’s prestigious Lunar Loo Challenge (Junior Category), beating 897 participants from 85 countries.
Your design can be adapted for use on Artemis lunar landers – NASA’s program will return
astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024.
Invited to present his design to NASA on October 28 via webinar, Zyson wowed the panel of astronomy experts with his simple but effective idea for pooping in space.
Zyson’s invention can fit comfortably in an astronaut’s spacesuit and does not require electricity or batteries as it uses mechanical kinetic energy.
“My design revolves around convenience. It works by applying a manual mechanical kinetic concept to produce vacuum suction power to crystallize urine and fecal matter for safe disposal.
“When you move your legs, the urine will flow into a container in the astronaut’s boots.
“The design does not require any electrical components, therefore it minimizes the potential for a malfunction in space,” said Zyson, an aspiring geneticist who is enthusiastic about astronomy.
The boy has participated in many science fairs, made a model of the solar system in 2016 when he was just five years old and presented it to Malaysia’s first astronaut, Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
Last year, he designed a solar charging station that could charge a spacecraft, eliminating the need to install a large battery.
His science coach, Chong Soo Sheong, 43, of the I-Discovery World science center in Kuala Lumpur, said Zyson has always been interested in space, motor vehicles and genetic engineering.
Noting that Zyson proposed the invention, Chong said its role was to guide and help students when they hit a pothole in the road.
“We just guide them and ask questions to help them think, then
it will come with an answer, ”he said.
He said they spent two months brainstorming to find solutions to solve NASA’s challenge, build the prototype and the final product.
“We learned how to use a syringe and we made different models with syringes before this. We thought about how to create a model with simple suction that can work under micro or zero gravity.
“There must be a bomb. A syringe was the answer.
“So we started testing the model, adding a container, tube and other accessories to make it work. Then we put it in the shoes and pants so that it was possible to pump without using the hands, ” he said.
Chong said Zyson’s invention did not happen overnight.
“He worked non-stop on his design for months. Solve the challenge involved, dissect the problem and find solutions.
“There was a lot of trial and error and learning curves.
“But I’m glad that his perseverance and continuous learning have allowed him to stand out on an international platform and show the world his talent,” he said.
Although space toilets already exist and are in use, they are designed for microgravity only and do not take lunar gravity into account.
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