NASA Spends Rp. 326 Billion To Build Toilets For Astronauts

Forms of portable toilets for astronauts (doc. NASA)

JAKARTA - The international space station (ISS) is a resting place for astronauts. Various activities are carried out there, both scientific research, resting and urinating and defecating.

According to Wired's report, Tuesday, June 23, the plan is that the ISS will soon have a new, super-sophisticated toilet, by the end of the year. Even the cost of making this super sophisticated toilet costs more than 23 million United States (US) or the equivalent of Rp. 326 billion (at an exchange rate of Rp. 14,212).

The plan, this super sophisticated toilet will be sent into space using a cargo capsule belonging to Northrop Grumman Cygnus, in September. This toilet was developed using the Universal Waste Management System design.

Unlike its predecessor, this portable toilet is made more compact. The sewage disposal system in this toilet is also made more practical, so it will not take up more space when placed on the ISS.

The sewage treatment system in this toilet also allows astronauts to recycle urine into water. Before being sent into space, these toilets have gone through a series of tests until they pass and meet NASA specifications.

"The toilet system before, was quite difficult for female astronauts. So there are several improvements and updates to make it easier for female astronauts even," said Melissa McKinley, a member of the NASA team that developed this new toilet.

Hopefully, the new design of this space toilet will make it easier for astronauts to channel their desires in the bathroom. Because in the early days of space travel, astronauts found it difficult to pass urine.

Even on the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon, astronauts were forced to use an airtight bag to simply urinate. Even before takeoff, the astronauts were asked to go to the toilet first.

On the other hand, NASA is indeed exploring the right way to improve the waste treatment system in outer space, in future missions. Including the use of recycled waste for reuse, as a valuable resource in space.

"We're going to learn a lot and try a lot of other things," said McKinley. "We are also already thinking about ways to upgrade (the toilet) for the next astronaut.