Bathrooms - Toilet drama for space station

28/05/2008

Astronauts on the international space station are eagerly awaiting plumbing supplies from a space shuttle after their toilet broke down, it has been reported.

The motor fan on the Russian-made toilet stopped working last week, meaning that liquid waste cannot be disposed of, according to the Associated Press.

While the system can deal with solid waste, the crew has been forced to rig up a homemade toilet from a backup bag to use when they need to urinate.

Allard Beutel, Nasa spokesman, told the news provider: "Like any home anywhere the importance of having a working bathroom is obvious."

The space shuttle Discovery is set for launch on Saturday (June 1st) and expected to dock with the international space station on Monday, bringing hopes that it could carry much-needed plumbing spares.

However, the shuttle's payload has already been carefully balanced, leaving Nasa bosses just days to figure out how to fit the toilet tools on the spacecraft.

According to newlaunches.com, the international space station's toilet is the most expensive in or out of this world, costing Nasa $19 million (£9.5 million).