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Author
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Topic: ISS WHC: 40,000+ 'flushes' in 13 years
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46243
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-12-2021 11:23 AM
   
Expedition 65 flight engineer Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (ESA) shared a photo of the counter inside the waste and hygiene compartment (WHC) that has been in use on the International Space Station since it was delivered on space shuttle Endeavour by the STS-126 crew in November 2008. 40,000 times this space toilet has been used, a milestone! We need to maintain it as clean sanitation and sewage treatment is a human right and a United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal.  A pre-launch photo shows the location of the panel:  |
AstronautBrian
Member Posts: 308
From: Louisiana
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-12-2021 11:30 AM
Ah, the Constellation U-Rine. |
OV-105
Member Posts: 857
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 05-12-2021 11:45 PM
That about 10 flushes a day. |
SpaceCadet1983
Member Posts: 332
From: Pacific NW, United States
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-13-2021 02:22 AM
I'm glad they're keeping track of that sort of thing! I could sure use one of those toilets and counters in my house!  |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1833
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 05-13-2021 10:35 AM
Is there a reason the amount of usages needs to be kept track of? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 46243
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-13-2021 04:23 PM
Speculating, but given that the WHC, like most crew systems aboard the space station, doubles as test bed for future spacecraft and space station hardware, the counter and other data collected by the compartment may aid in engineering analysis. Having the total number of uses as a figure might help when tracking how often the WHC requires maintenance, for example. |
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