International Space Station Toilet Fails! - When will it flush properly again?

I was just trying to create this question! Beat me to it. Another good one. :)

I can see the next headline: "Space Station evacuated, heading towards earth: after the toilet on the ISS stopped working, and backed up the commanding officer, having waste accidentally flung into both of his eyes, hit the "self destruct" button. Once pressed the self destruct cannot be reversed."

After these repairs, a new, and larger toilet, is scheduled to arrive at the space station later this year. The price is out of this world ... a staggering 19 million U.S. dollars.

"A NASA spoke woman said that paying 19 million U.S. dollars for a Russian-built international space station toilet system is a bargain compared to building one from scratch. The toilet system, similar to the one already in use in the station's Zvezda Service Module, is scheduled to arrive at the space station in 2008 and will offer more privacy for a crew expected to double from three to six by 2009."

For a look at a photo:
<http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/the_most_expensive_toilet_in_the_world_purchased_by_nasa.php>

You'd think NASA could develop a toilet that flushes properly. lol

They can calculate how to slow the Phoenix from thousands of miles per hour down to a perfect landing on Mars in a matter of minutes, but you have to jiggle the handle on the toilet. Go figure.

On tap in space: Urine will not go to waste
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/ontapinspaceurinewillnotgotowaste

great story!

Ain't there a drinking water problem thereby?

Blame the Russians for the broken toilet, not NASA.

For sure, it was probably they who made the english/metric screwup that fouled a previous attempt at what Phoenix just accomplished.

Hmmm, maybe I should diagram that sentence.

I just visited the Houston Space Center yesterday, and had a wonderful time.
Just so happens, the ISS toilet is somewhat more complex than you would expect.
In 0g water or any liquid substance form globules ( think water 'bubbles' ) that continue to grow as it comes into contact with more and more liquid. So, for the urinary waste, they have a hose with a cup on the end for males, and some other more exotic device for females. Both devices amount to a vacuum of sorts. This waste, is recycled, but for some reason, the tour guide wouldn't say what ISS used it for.

For waste #2 (hehe), the problem is handled similarly, but, the crew really must snap themselves onto a 'seat', and then, push a button, and whooooosh, a very loud sucking sound. (Like something you'd hear on a airline).

Then, I'll leave the hilarious cleanup methods for you to contemplate. But, it does not include paper (or shells).

ummm ... Houston, we may have a problem.