“Space station struggles with balky toilet”, James Oberg, MSNBC.com, 27/5. An overview of the ISS ASU malfunction. Despite attempted fixes it is still not working properly, so some spare parts will be flown up on the next Shuttle flight.
Byerly did not address other reports, passed along privately to MSNBC.com, that a “fabrication flaw” has been discovered in the toilet’s compressor units. One source in Houston said that the hardware used there for crew training may be flown to Florida for launch aboard Discovery, even though it too is expected to fail quickly. The source was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly, and thus spoke on condition of anonymity.
A major new unit, intended to allow the expansion of crew size from three to six members, is being prepared for launch late this year. Until then, the current hardware – and the supply of “Apollo bags” for fecal collection – may have to suffice. And if previous experience is any guide, the Russian engineers and cosmonauts will find McGyver-type solutions to make it work.
Ugh! Maybe the crew should go on a “low-residue” diet until the parts are replaced! From the latest 27/5 ISS Daily Report:
ASU Update: Troubleshooting continues on the Russian ASU toilet facility. Almost all system components have been changed out at this time, including the separator with no improvement in function. Specialists feel the problem is with the separator pump, though they have never before seen this failure signature. New procedures for temporary manual operation of the pump are in work, and the crew is using a backup system of wring collectors which are functioning nominally. Since they are a consumable, 1J is being last-minute manifested with additional wring collectors and a new ASU separator pump (KSC ground unit).
“Time To Break Out The Bags” at NASA Watch gives instances of where the ASU has been down before, though these are relatively minor. 14/2/2005: ASU parts were replaced as they had come to the end of their operational life; 29/7/2003: three components replaced. The ASU has otherwise been generally reliable.
[To clarify, the urine collection is affected, not the solid waste collection!]
“The losing hand: tradition and superstition in spaceflight”, The Space Review, 27/5. An overview of various spaceflight superstitions. (I have a page at my “RuSpace” website describing some.)
