NASA 'shopping' toilet $ 19 million

The US Space Agency (NASA) has agreed to pay $ 19 million for a Russian-designed toilet system to be equipped at the International Space Station (ISS).

This number sounds very big for a toilet in the universe, but NASA officials believe it is cheaper to buy

Astronaut Steven Swanson on the international space station. (Photo: AP)

is that they design themselves. In addition, the astronauts used to use the new toilet because it was quite similar to the one used on the ISS station.

Interestingly, this new system can turn urine into a special device to make drinking water. Toilet is expected to be taken to the ISS station in 2008.

Compared to the old system, the new toilet is also more discreet - an extremely necessary thing on ISS because the ISS crew is expected to increase from 3 to 6 in 2009.

The $ 19 million toilet system is part of a larger project, worth $ 46 million, signed by NASA during the week with RSC Energia, a Russian space company. Other equipment also has updated software for the ISS inventory management system, a backup inflatable device .

VTH