NASA Space poop challenge - solve it and win 30k
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
In the days of Gemini and Apollo where there was effectively no on board toilet facilities at all (apart from a pee tube and plastic bags) the astronauts went onto a low fibre diet a week or so before the mission. This slowed down the manufacture of poo but didn't stop it completely. The crews found (on average) they could hang on for around four or five days without having to reach for the poo bags. The record, I think, was around 8 days.
Being an IBS sufferer, I know I could never be an astronaut.
It's a lot better now. Skylab in 1973 was the first American spacecraft to have a proper loo on board. The Soyuz has a loo in the spherical Orbital Module. The Space Shuttle, Salyut, Mir and the ISS all have decent loos.
The upcoming Orion will also have a loo - although the spacecraft is only about 1/3 bigger than an Apollo Command Module so I'm not sure where the loo is going to be and how private it will be. Bear in mind that Orion will be flying mixed sex crews.
The upcoming Orion will also have a loo - although the spacecraft is only about 1/3 bigger than an Apollo Command Module so I'm not sure where the loo is going to be and how private it will be. Bear in mind that Orion will be flying mixed sex crews.
Einion Yrth said:
Eric Mc said:
"Wee wees" aren't too much of a problem.
Stuff a big condom down the leg of the suit works o.k. for blokes, but for the lassies?
Eric Mc said:
In the days of Gemini and Apollo where there was effectively no on board toilet facilities at all (apart from a pee tube and plastic bags) the astronauts went onto a low fibre diet a week or so before the mission. This slowed down the manufacture of poo but didn't stop it completely. The crews found (on average) they could hang on for around four or five days without having to reach for the poo bags. The record, I think, was around 8 days.
Which reminds me of the story told be either Frank Borman or Jim Lovell from Gemini 7. I can't recall exactly how it was told but I think Lovell tells Borman that after a week in orbit he finally has to take a poo. To which Borman replies "Can't you just wait another 7 days?"MartG said:
Another alternative, which would require real dedication from the astronauts - before a mission they get a ( reversible ) colostomy
That was my thinking. Fairly sure a colostomy doesn't require you to use the bag, just close the valve and s
t normally when in the station. When suiting up for EVA, connect up to an external bag through the suit and open the valve. Bag can then be replaced if necessary to achieve the 144 hour requirement.Sway said:
MartG said:
Another alternative, which would require real dedication from the astronauts - before a mission they get a ( reversible ) colostomy
That was my thinking. Fairly sure a colostomy doesn't require you to use the bag, just close the valve and st normally when in the station. When suiting up for EVA, connect up to an external bag through the suit and open the valve. Bag can then be replaced if necessary to achieve the 144 hour requirement.If I look back at old sci-fi "In the future...." programs the standard meal would be reduced to a pill form for the astronaut. This pill would contain all the vitamins and nutrients for a normal meal. You would have pills like this
Monday - chicken korma and rice, apple pie and custard pudding
Tuesday - beef strogonoff, treacle tart.
etc
The great thing about this is that waste from the astronauts anus goes down to very low indeed. Which is a really nice side effect.
Not sure why they are not doing this, I guess moral might go down.
Monday - chicken korma and rice, apple pie and custard pudding
Tuesday - beef strogonoff, treacle tart.
etc
The great thing about this is that waste from the astronauts anus goes down to very low indeed. Which is a really nice side effect.
Not sure why they are not doing this, I guess moral might go down.
Eric Mc said:
Not altogether sure whether gravity makes much difference, to be honest. Most of us feel the need to go through internal pressure - which would be much the same in Zero G.
More of a factor might be the fact that Zero G changes the way the body absorbs nutrients and metabolises. Astronauts often find that their wee rate goes up quite a lot for the first few days of being in Zero G. It then goes down to more normal levels for the remainder of their mission.
I haven't heard whether there is much of a change to the poo factor though.
In the days of Gemini and Apollo where there was effectively no on board toilet facilities at all (apart from a pee tube and plastic bags) the astronauts went onto a low fibre diet a week or so before the mission. This slowed down the manufacture of poo but didn't stop it completely. The crews found (on average) they could hang on for around four or five days without having to reach for the poo bags. The record, I think, was around 8 days.
I was watching one of those "Border Agency" programme on TV recently. There was a guy held in custody suspected of smuggling drugs 'internally'. He refused any solids and held on for 48 days!!More of a factor might be the fact that Zero G changes the way the body absorbs nutrients and metabolises. Astronauts often find that their wee rate goes up quite a lot for the first few days of being in Zero G. It then goes down to more normal levels for the remainder of their mission.
I haven't heard whether there is much of a change to the poo factor though.
In the days of Gemini and Apollo where there was effectively no on board toilet facilities at all (apart from a pee tube and plastic bags) the astronauts went onto a low fibre diet a week or so before the mission. This slowed down the manufacture of poo but didn't stop it completely. The crews found (on average) they could hang on for around four or five days without having to reach for the poo bags. The record, I think, was around 8 days.
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