How do astronauts use the toilet in space?

Going to the toilet in a gravityless environment, astronauts must keep themselves still, while not letting the waste out and floating in space.

Each toilet on the spacecraft is about 10cm wide, only 1/4 of the diameter of the earth sanitary equipment (30-45cm). The airship on the spacecraft is like a pilot's seat and has many pipes, wires and electrical switches around. In addition, a camera is placed inside, just below the toilet so the astronaut knows exactly where they sit and observes the whole " process " . The two front handles help each person to position and not fly up.

A toilet on the spacecraft.(Photo: NASA)

Each toilet is equipped with a vacuum that uses air pressure to suck solid waste. Waste must not be dispersed into space but must be stored on the station for reuse in some necessary cases or brought back to the earth.

The urinal is placed in front of the toilet. One end is attached to a funnel and has two different sizes to suit each person's size. The other end is a urine aspirator into the waste water tank. Of course, the toilets will bring the design suitable for both men and women.

Each cosmic toilet costs about £ 11 million ($ 19 million), but the installation costs up to £ 150 million ($ 250 million). In 2008, astronauts started using new toilets that could purify and distill urine into water. This water can be used for direct drinking or bathing.