Astronauts deal with flooded toilet in orbit

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/19/09 | Marcia Dunn - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The bathroom lines just got a lot longer at the linked space shuttle and space station.

One of the two toilets on the international space station malfunctioned Sunday morning. The pump separator apparently flooded. Mission Control advised the astronauts to hang an "out of service" sign on the toilet, until it can be fixed. In the meantime, the six space station residents will have to get in line to use their one good toilet. And Endeavour's seven astronauts will be restricted to the shuttle bathroom.

There have never been so many people — 13 — together in space. The toilet repair work fell to Belgian Frank De Winne.

[NormsRevenge]

Houston! We have a problem.

[kempster]

Don’t tell me they don’t have a $600.00 plunger to go with their toilet seat.

[Dianna]

Damn Wolowitz...

[KarlInOhio]

What's worse than a flooded toilet with foul water flowing over the floor? Doing it in zero gravity when the backed up water is floating in the air.

[mkmensinger]

I hope they’ve got a plunger. Otherwise somebody’s going to have to roll up their sleeve. I can just hear it: “I spent years training to be an astronaut for this?” :^)

[real saxophonist]

Oh, sh!t!

[NormsRevenge]

.. and on the shuttle exterior, some pics of the scuffs and scratchmarks after launch. looks pretty minor, no repairs needed , imo.

.

In this NASA file photo, damage to the thermal tiles on the Space Shuttle Endeavour can be seen as white marks on the nose of the orbiter (lower right) in this image taken during a photo survey of the approaching vehicle prior to docking with the International Space July 17, 2009. REUTERS/NASA/Handout

[HighWheeler]

“The toilet repair work fell to Belgian Frank De Winne.”

— — —

I didn’t know that Begians were experts with toilets.

[MediaMole]

At least the Belgian finally has an appropriate role.

[NormsRevenge]

In this NASA photo the Space Shuttle Endeavour is captured by a remote
camera equipped with a fish-eye lens, as the seven-member STS-127 crew
leaves launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and heads toward
the International Space Station July 15, 2009. REUTERS/NASA/Handout

[BOBTHENAILER]

Euro’s know all about dat chit.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

They better shut down the Zero Gravity Beer Manufacturing Module!

[NormsRevenge]

Yup. we lose it, may as well just fly back home now.

[RichInOC]

“Gregg, what is the worst fraternity on campus?”

[digger48]

Perhaps the double bean and green chili burritos in the mission menu wasn’t such a good idea after all.

[quikdrw]

Wolowitz designed a repair.

[hoosiermama]

Frank the plumber needs a raise...at least give him union wages...Oh wait the union will probably protest because a non-union guy did a job that only a member of the union could do...

[proudofthesouth]

Looks like Mr. Rooter will be visiting the space shuttle.

I paid $138.00 for a 15 minute visit to have my toliet guts replaced yesterday. I wonder how much they will charge for this long distance visit? :*)

[usmcobra]

In space no one can hear you poop.....

[COBOL2Java]

I paid $138.00 for a 15 minute visit to have my toliet guts replaced yesterday. I wonder how much they will charge for this long distance visit? :*)

That'd be a HECK of a long sewer snake!