Motions in space
p2pnet news | off topic:- Movements in space, where all things come to pass, are by definition complex. And they can also be extremely expensive, as a new NASA acquisition proves.
It’s agreed to buy a Russian space toilet for $19 million, says the CanWest News Service, going on:
The toilet, which turns urine into drinkable water, will go on the International Space Station, which has one toilet for a crew of three.
The crew will expand to six members in 2009.
“The new system is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. side of the space station in 2008. It will offer more privacy than the old toilet system, which will definitely be needed,” says Associated Press. “The space station crew is expected to grow from three to six people by 2009.”
“If you’re 300 kilometres away, with no chance of getting to the nearest toilet, and you only have one toilet, then there’s reason to be concerned – especially if there were six of you,” CanWest has says Ben Quine, who teaches space engineering at York University in Toronto, stating.
“Sanitation is more important within the confines of a spaceship or space station than on Earth,” observes PBS, from whence comes the pic. It shows astronaut Jerry L. Rossin an operation involving the crew’s drinking water. But it doesn’t have anything to do with space toilets 
“Studies have shown that the population of some microbes can increase extraordinarily in microgravity and confined spaces,” says the post. “This means many infectious illnesses could easily spread to everyone aboard.”
Also See:
CanWest News Service – NASA buys $19-million biffy, July 5, 2007
Associated Press – NASA Buys $19 Million Toilet Systemi, July 5, 2007
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