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  Waste disposal on the International Space Station

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Author Topic:   Waste disposal on the International Space Station
moorouge
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Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009

posted 05-31-2011 02:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for moorouge   Click Here to Email moorouge     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A schoolboy's favourite question!

I'm well aware of solid waste disposal arrangements for the shuttle and for Apollo and Gemini. I'm also know that International Space Station (ISS) liquid waste is recycled.

But what do they do with the accumulation of solid waste on the ISS? Bag it and return it to Earth?

Tykeanaut
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Posts: 2212
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008

posted 05-31-2011 02:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tykeanaut   Click Here to Email Tykeanaut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have read that solid waste is collected in individual micro-perforated bags which are then stored in aluminium containers. When full these containers are then transferred to Progress for disposal.

OV-105
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Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 05-31-2011 10:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OV-105   Click Here to Email OV-105     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So I guess that would be a real asteroid then. Sorry couldn't help myself been a long day.

Jay Chladek
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Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 06-01-2011 02:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In the case of the urine, the solid elements of it are contained in a concentrated form in a special tank while the water component is recycled. I am not sure what happens when the tank gets full, but it likely gets transferred to the Progress and burned up with the rest of the garbage.

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