NASA is launching a new space toilet International Space Station To test before being used on future missions to the moon or Mars for astronauts next week.
Million 23 million toilet system, known as Universal waste management system (UWMS), 65% smaller and 40% lighter than the toilets currently in use on the space station, and can support larger crews. As part of a regular response mission, the toilet will move to the space station on the Northrop Grumman Cygnus Cargo Capsule ship on September 29.
Once at the space station, the astronauts will test how the new toilet will operate in the microgravity atmosphere on the station. The system will be installed next to the existing toilet in Node 3 of the space station, NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Logistics Reduction Project Manager Melissa Melay Kinley said during a news conference on Thursday (Sept. 24).
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Expedition 63 astronauts Chris Cassidy and Evan Wagner have begun preparations for the delivery of the space toilet. The crew will use the CanadaDerm 2 robotic arm of the orbital lab to capture the Cygnus spacecraft. One line From the space agency.
“The toilet was built for research and it goes ahead Previous spacelight toilet design“McKinley said during the press conference.” The research part of the design is looking to optimize the large tea mass volume and power consumption, which are all important components of spacecraft design. “
The advanced design of the spatial toilet includes a urine funnel and seat designed to accommodate more for female crew members. It also has a 3D printed titanium dual fan separator, developed by Collins Aerospace and creates a strong air flow that, instead of gravity, helps astronauts pull waste into urine and toilets.
The titanium design also improves the existing pretreatment system used to collect and treat The urine of astronauts Is re-processed and recycled for reusable water.
The UKWMS measures approximately 28 inches (71 centimeters) tall, comparable to compact toilets used on campers, McKinley said during the conference. The toilet also has an automatic starting system instead of the current on and off switch Toilet models On the space station.
The new system will be used regularly by the crew on the space station and tested over the next three years to ensure that everything works as planned. Prior to launch, the system was tested in an atmosphere designed to simulate a space station, NASA officials said.
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