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Posted on 05/27/2008 1:59:29 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
Space shuttle Discovery will be loaded with spare parts to fix the main toilet in the Russian segment of the International Space Station; the vacuum-powered urine-collection device failed after repeated attempts to fix it last week.
The three crew members on the station, a U.S. astronaut and two cosmonauts, are using the toilet in the Soyuz module. The situation could become problematic when Discovery arrives next week, and 10 people are required to share the toilet on the tiny Soyuz, which is a Russian capsule also designated to be used at an emergency escape lifeboat. The shuttle's toilet, however, could provide some relief until the ISS toilet is repaired, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported.
Conditions are not unsanitary, said a NASA spokesman.
Though Discovery will carry up replacement parts on Saturday, NASA is not yet sure which parts will be needed for replacement.
With the successful arrival on Mars of the Phoenix spacecraft, NASA is turning its attention to Saturday's launch of Discovery on a mission to deliver a massive Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station.
Technicians returned to work on Tuesday at launch pad 39A after most work crews had the Memorial Day weekend off. Discovery's astronaut crew arrives at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday about 11:30 a.m. The coundown begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Discovery will blast off at 5:02 p.m. on a trip to deliver the 37-foot Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. Three spacewalks will be performed during the 14-day mission.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Here are some links to other articles that I couldn't post.
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I hope the Russians dont get the beer bong mixed up with that tube...
Do they make Lysol for the space station?
"Begging the Captain's pardon, sir, but that's not even remotely close to being in my job description. I don't know a thing about plumbing, and I'm not inclined to learn at this point in my career."
"Have a heart for Godsake, Man! Spock's really gotta go!!
That reminds me of what Mr. Spock said after Captain Kirk went to the bathroom. He said, “Captain’s log.”
With the redundancy built into so many systems you’d think they had a back up plan. /bad pun
Sounds like they better send up a porta-potty just in case.
He did a stint on the ISS, and fixed a number of things, from his watch (in zero g), to broken lab equipment, to stuff on the outside of the station (using a Russian sledge hammer).
“A Royal Flush beats a Full House.”
Now, this sounds like a space-mission I could handle.
Gimme a pipe-wrench and a space suit... (Wonder if they have a keg-erator up there?)
Captain Pecard told Commander Riker, “Number 1, take a number 2.”
Seriously, Paleo C, how often do the astros go? Do you have the stats on that? I would think they spend most of their time in space slightly dehydrated so elimination would be at a low ebb.
Do space plumber’s suits show butt crack?
Astronauts To Fix Space Station Toilet Plumbing Added To Discovery Mission...
the US should send up some ILLEGALS to fix and clean the toilets.....after all ~ the lib/dems always say the ILLEGALS just do the jobs that the US citzenry won’t do!!!!
It sure sounds like a job for Mike Rowe and “Dirty Jobs”; come on Discovery Channel.
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