Ever wondered how astronauts would answer the call of nature? Considering that they are out in the space, wearing a spacesuit with no toilet, and a crew of other astronauts around, it probably adds to the discomfort.
For this reason, NASA agency recently launched the “Space Poop Challenge,” a contest where innovators are asked to create an efficient fecal, urine and menstrual management system for spacesuits that could work for up to six days. The winning space poop solution will be awarded $30,000 prize money.
The current space suits which are to be worn by astronauts do not have any such feature and donning the space suit could take up to 10 to 12 hours. So astronauts use diapers as an immediate solution during launch, landing or spacewalking. However, neither are diapers comfortable nor hygienic or safe beyond a period of time.
Hence NASA is looking for a system which will collect the waste inside the suit for up to 144 hours and routes it away without having to use a hand. The system must work in the conditions of space i.e. weightlessness and microgravity where things just float around and fluids which will not mix freely like on Earth.
The waste management system must address all forms of refuse including fecal, urine and menstrual, and protect the safety and health of the crew members. The system must be capable of addressing up to one liter of urine, 75 grams of fecal mass, and 75 milliliters of volume and menstrual collection up to 80 milliliters over six days.
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NASA will award $30,000 to solutions which will be used for future missions in the coming three or four years. Anyone above the age of 18, private teams, public groups, college teams from any country can participate in this contest. Designs must be submitted before December 20th, 2016.
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