NASA Spent $23 Million on a Space Toilet: Artemis II Astronauts Are Glad They Did - Open Magazine

Was the UWMS redesigned for female astronauts?

Yes. With direct input from female crew members, NASA redesigned the UWMS with longer hoses and improved positioning, enabling simultaneous use of both functions - a critical upgrade from systems built exclusively around male anatomy.

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HomeWorldNASA Spent $23 Million on a Space Toilet: Artemis II Astronauts Are Glad They Did

NASA Spent $23 Million on a Space Toilet: Artemis II Astronauts Are Glad They Did

Shashank Bhardwaj

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The Universal Waste Management System is a vacuum-driven toilet installed inside Orion's dedicated hygiene bay

According to Space.com, feces are sucked into a disposable bag seated inside a base canister. Credits: AI Generated image ## How is solid waste managed in Orion?

According to Space.com, feces are sucked into a disposable bag seated inside a base canister. Once full, the bag is sealed and compressed into a holding container, which returns to Earth at mission's end.

Is there actual privacy in Orion's tiny bathroom?

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The hygiene bay features a door and optional privacy curtains. According to Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, it is "the one place... we can actually feel like we're alone for a moment."

Was the UWMS redesigned for female astronauts?