Who wnats to take this call? ;)

Unknown

You got a permit for this? LOL...

Unknown

It's a bit of a haul to the jobsite...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The international space station's lone toilet is broken, leaving the crew with almost nowhere to go. So NASA may order an in-orbit plumbing service call when space shuttle Discovery visits next week.

Until then, the three-man crew will have to make do with a jury-rigged system when they need to urinate.

While one of the crew was using the Russian-made toilet last week, the toilet motor fan stopped working, according to NASA. Since then, the liquid waste gathering part of the toilet has been working on-and-off.

Fortunately, the solid waste collecting part is functioning normally.

Russian officials don't know the cause of the problem, and the crew has been unable to fix it.

The crew has used the toilet on the Soyuz return capsule, but it has a limited capacity. They now are using a backup bag-like collection system that can be connected to the broken toilet, according to NASA public affairs officials.

"Like any home anywhere, the importance of having a working bathroom is obvious," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said.

The 7-year-old toilet has broken once before but not for as long a time, said Johnson Space Center spokeswoman Nicole Cloutier in Houston.

Discovery is already set for launch Saturday, with a planned docking with the space station Monday.

Cloutier said NASA officials are considering having some parts flown to Cape Canaveral, Florida, and placed in the shuttle during its countdown, an unusual and delicate situation. Because the shuttle's payload weight is limited and balance carefully calculated, it will be tricky to try to figure out where the parts can go, said Kennedy Space Center spokesman Bill Johnson

Discovery's main payload, a 32,000-pound Japanese laboratory addition, is so big that the shuttle's boom sensor system had to be removed to make room for the lab.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/05/27/space.toilet.ap/

Unknown

Go figure.

All those modules and only one toilet. All those super smart guys and they just couldn't figure out that the darn thing is going to break. Time for an addition. I have customers with 4 bathrooms that pitch a fit when one toilet is down.

rich pickering

How come it always breaks just when company is coming?

rich pickering

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh,,,

This not be cheap........

(old plumbers joke)

Weezbo

*~/:)

i had my Superman shirt on Saturday...just gotter back from the dry cleaners ... all they had to do was give me a call.:)

Unknown

I know,

Who knows how many people can be on that thing at one time, like 6 anyways, but there's only one toilet? And rocket scientists are supposed to be so smart. LOL...

Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2

humnnnn

Travel time, mileage, and overtime charges! That's one very expensive call(G). But, a service-truck might just fit nicely into the cargo-bay. Floating tools might pose a hazard & the truck's fluids would need to be contained. But, looks like a do-able service call(G).

Kevin O. Pulver_2

Wasn't that a FarSide cartoon Rich?

I think I remember the caveman saying, "Ohhh, this not be cheap." Kevin

Kevin O. Pulver_2

DrPepper

Port-a-Potty on a tether

How long before someone Photoshops a Port-o-Potty hooked to the side of the station. I'd hang that picture on the wall.

John Starcher_4

That.....

...is one of my all time favorites!!!!!

Unknown

gotta find that

Gotta find that picture of me inside of "blanket" with hose attachment for plumbing on the ISL ( international space labortory) trainer at Houston. Asked my brother ( shuttle payload engineer) only one for the space station?!? And asked him how many he have in own home plus the one I installed in his garage for conveint (sp) purpose....

bob young

challenge declined

try to repair russian designed & installed equipment. i have worked in brighton beach.....no thanks. rip it out & start fresh

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

Buy American

That's why I use American Products, how hard is it going to be getting parts for a Russian Toilet. If it broke already they probably bought it at the big box discount store.
Thanks, Bob Gagnon

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

bob young

impossible repairs

we have enough trouble reairing american made products. try working on an old one piece kohler rialto or a case. you might get it but it won't be easy & the customer usually won't be grateful or like the price. much easier to just replace . brand new always looks better to the customer after you leave as opposed to looking at the same old fixture . they feel they got more for their money.

Unknown

same supplier as munchkin?

You said the fan broke?? So no fan equals no pee. Mmmm.

Wow, at least they got 7 years out of it. we were ucky to get 3 on a pinnicle or munchkin. Must have been running at 40%!

wheels

jp_2

sissys

why can't those sissy's just 'go' outside!

Unknown

Apparently,,,

The parts are in, they're on the truck and it should be leaving shortly. Now watch them get all the way there and find out the supply house shipped the wrong part.

David_34

space shuttle and space station?

I might be very wrong here, but wasent the shuttle and maybe the toilet built by the lowest bidder?

Timco

Do you suppose when they called the problem in to mission control, they were told "space station, have you tried to jiggle the handel? If you remove the tank lid, you will find a rubber flapper. can you check the seal?"

Given the thousands of miles it will take to get the service vehicle up there, we should be able to bill the Russians a cool mil in milage overages alone! The shuttle crew will get there only to have the space station guys answer the door and say " we couldn't wait so we called someone else and they were cheaper anyway...but thanks for the effort."

Tim

bob young

or ask for a written estimate [ FOR FREE ]

Timco

Well sir, here's your estimate and I do have the part on the shuttle. You realize it may be a while before we can get back out this way. No, I will not sell you the part so you can fix it yourself since I made the trip all the way up here. Maybe the toilet was designed for high altitude, rather than 'no' altitude...Under interplanetary law, I will have to call the health department if this is not fixed in a timely manner.

Tim

Bob Harper

by the book

before they start work they need to pull a permit....