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from the another-in-our-ongoing-instructional-series dept.
NASA has a problem with #1 and #2 in space. What to do? Crowdsource it, in the form of a contest where anyone can submit a superior method. The contest just ended with NASA awarding $30,000 to the winning entries.
NASA astronauts' current method of waste disposal involves using a diaper during spacewalks and launch and entry, but these systems can be used only for about a day. The agency noted that it is difficult to design pooping systems for microgravity, where fluids and other things float. Maintaining good hygiene for these systems was among the primary challenges participants were tasked with solving.
In a description of the challenge, NASA said it was looking for technologies that have a "technical readiness level of 4" on its "ready for flight" scale, meaning that the solution could be tested in one year and be ready for space in three years. NASA added that it would consider solutions that would need more time if they were considered breakthroughs.
The goal is to use the system on a mission in the next three or four years, the challenge page said.
An earlier article about the problem: http://www.space.com/35576-space-poop-system-orion-deep-space.html.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Thursday February 16 2017, @01:11PM
various metric tons of SF pseudoscientific tales, and no one thought about the problem of pooping.
Solution: leave meatbag home, send bots. Better to be sent in orbit than doing the sex worker or the old meatbags caregiver, or EWWWWW be implanted in one.
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(Score: 5, Funny) by c0lo on Thursday February 16 2017, @01:44PM
Star Trek: teleport the human, keep to poop.
Star Wars: use the force, Luke.
2001 A space Odyssey: "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't let you do that".
Alien - nothing special, just show one/any of them.
Harry Potter: expelipoopus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 16 2017, @01:55PM
Speaking of 2001, I've always found the zero gravity toilet scene subtly hilarious.
ZERO GRAVITY TOILET - PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED TO READ INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE [ryerson.ca]
Dr. Floyd under pressure [blogspot.com].
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 16 2017, @09:42PM
TL;DR! 💩
(Score: 2) by fritsd on Thursday February 16 2017, @03:48PM
Dune: use the pouches in your stillsuit.
Spaceballs: you can't do that here! This is a Mercedes!
(Score: 2) by Bot on Friday February 17 2017, @10:31PM
Robocop:
- Target?
- check!
- Target?
- check!
- You'll keep the stall clean, murphy!
- I don't have a pee pee.
The day the earth stood still: "Hey, let's look if the toilet flush still spins clockwise now".
The forbidden planet:
-"I am sorry, Commander, this place is not for the gents"
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(Score: 2) by butthurt on Thursday February 16 2017, @09:35PM
It was key to the plot of The Martian.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Thursday February 16 2017, @10:14PM
Heh, there has been a LOT of thought on that.
Just to add, from a sci-fi book I can't remember the title of, aliens created a toilet when asked by the humans. Looked like a regular toilet, but was perfectly frictionless. The author spent quite a bit of time describing the magic of poop sliding, without leaving any stains, down and out a drain.
The most interesting one, that I think is a real winner, came from Garden of Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. In some sentient arthropods decided to help with the #2 needs by developing a symbiotic life form to live *inside* your intestines. It lived off excrement and released only gas. So instead of needing to take any shits at all, you had some creatures living in your butt that took care of it for you. Butt butlers, if you will.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 17 2017, @03:15AM
Looked like a regular toilet, but was perfectly frictionless.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mote_in_God's_Eye [wikipedia.org] ?
It lived off excrement and released only gas.
No thanks. Don't want to be making big farts non-stop. And if it's converting significant matter to energy that would be even scarier.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Friday February 17 2017, @09:59PM
> Heh, there has been a LOT of thought on that.
Then I have been lucky, avoiding all that crap SF.
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