Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
    SnapMunk
    • Startups
    • Crowdfunding
    • Industry Insights
    • Startup Directory
    • Newsletters
    SnapMunk
    Home»Industry Insights»Here’s How NASA Might Deal With Poop in Space in The Near Future
    Nasa poop feature
    Industry Insights

    Here’s How NASA Might Deal With Poop in Space in The Near Future

    Prateek JoseBy Prateek JoseFebruary 23, 20175 Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

    There’s (practically) no gravity in space, but you still need to deal with stuff dropping. Or sticking around where it isn’t supposed to.

    The expulsion of bodily wastes is a problem that has had the folks at NASA scratching their heads for a while now. Spacesuits do well to keep astronauts alive in hostile conditions, but their waste-elimination capabilities are not what you’d consider ideal – unless wearing a diaper in 12-hour stretches sounds like an acceptable way to deal with the problem. Seeing an opportunity to crowdsource solutions, NASA created the ‘Space Poop Challenge,’ the objective of which is described as follows:

    “The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seeks proposed solutions for fecal, urine, and menstrual management systems to be used in the crew’s launch and entry suits over a continuous duration of up to 144 hours. An in-suit waste management system would be beneficial for contingency scenarios or for any long duration tasks.”

     

     
    Or if you prefer the shorter paraphrased version: “Astronauts need to poop without making a mess. Help!”

    The proposed solution would need to route waste away from spacesuits and into a collection system of some kind. An uptime of up to 144 hours would be required, which is how long an astronaut might have to remain in the same suit in the event of a catastrophic occurrence. That’s just 6 days worth of waste per astronaut that needs to be sequestered safely while the closest plumbing system is possibly thousands of miles away. Easy-peasy.

    The competition kicked off in October last year and came to a close in December. Winners were announced last week.

    The winning entry was made by Thatcher Cardon, a flight surgeon and physician from Texas. Cardon calls his solution M-PACS, short for MACES Perineal Access and Toileting System. The main component is an air lock called the ‘perineal access port’ that sits over the crotch region. It is positioned in the front rather than the back so that astronauts don’t have to lean back in order to use it.

    Whenever an astronaut needs to “go to the toilet,” they start by removing the airlock cap. Then, a valve is attached and a tube inserted into the port. These two components equalize the pressure and prevent gasses from getting out. Once those are in place, astronauts can use specific contraptions like an inflatable bedpan combined with a bidet spray to get the job done.

    Cardon was awarded $15,000 by NASA for his potentially revolutionary creation. The second and third place contestants walked away with $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Clearly, it pays to know your shit.

     

    Prateek Jose
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Why the Last, Shittiest Ever Black Mirror Episode Is Definitely Its Best Ever Episode

    June 13, 2019

    Apple September 2018 Event: iPhone XS, XS Max, and More

    September 13, 2018

    Apple September 2018 Event: What’s in Store

    September 11, 2018

    Maximize Team Productivity With Project Management Tool monday.com

    August 22, 2018
    TOP POSTS

    Beyond Bonjour: Mastering Languages for a World Without Borders

    March 26, 2024

    Speak Like a Boss: Mastering Languages for Startup Success

    March 26, 2024

    Save Money While Going Green With Arcadia Power

    July 25, 2019

    3 Compelling Reasons Why Your Tech Startup Needs A .TECH Domain

    June 21, 2019

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    SnapMunk is dedicated to providing readers with all things interesting, exciting and entertaining in the world of tech news, startup companies and startup culture.

    We're social. Connect with us:

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
    TOP INSIGHTS

    Beyond Bonjour: Mastering Languages for a World Without Borders

    March 26, 2024

    Speak Like a Boss: Mastering Languages for Startup Success

    March 26, 2024

    Save Money While Going Green With Arcadia Power

    July 25, 2019
    GET INFORMED

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Instagram
    • Home
    • Startups
    • Crowdfunding
    • Industry Insights
    • Startup Directory
    © 2025 SnapMunk. Designed by SnapMunk.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.