NASA a US
space agency have recently sent a new toilet system called Universal Waste
Management System (UWMS) to International Space Station or ISS last September
29,2020 as the news said. The new toilet system according to the news cost $23
million. The toilet system have improved or enhanced features compare to former
ones being use on space station.
The system has
strong airflow as the news said to better management the urine and feces from floating
in space because of no gravity or less gravity in the environment.
“The $23 million toilet system, known as the Universal
Waste Management System (UWMS), is 65% smaller and 40%
lighter than the toilet currently in use on the space station, and can support
larger crews. The toilet will launch to the space station aboard a Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo capsule on
Sept. 29, as part of a routine resupply mission.” (Space)
“ The space
toilet's advanced design includes a urine funnel and seat that is created to be
more accommodating for female crew members. It also features a 3D-printed
titanium dual fan separator, which was developed by Collins Aerospace and
creates a strong airflow that, in lieu of gravity, helps to pull the
astronauts’ urine and waste into the toilet. The titanium design also
improves upon the existing pretreat system used to collect and treat astronauts' urine before it is processed and recycled
for reclaimed water.” (Space)
“The UWMS
measures roughly 28 inches (71 centimeters) tall, which is comparable to the
compact toilets used on campers, McKinley said during the conference. The
toilet also has an automatic starting system, rather than an on and off switch
like current toilet models on the space
station. The new system will be used routinely by the crew on the space
station and tested over the next three years to make sure everything works as
planned. Prior to launch, the system was tested in environments designed to
simulate that of the space station, NASA officials have said.” (Space)
Space Toilet (image from Space website)
Space Toilet (image from Inquirer website)
No comments:
Post a Comment