Space station's toilet begins to fail, panic sinking in

You think it's bad when computers on the International Space Station get spazzed -- just imagine the chaos when the primary commode decides to stop functioning correctly. As of now, crew members are being forced to urinate in a "jury-rigged system" that's connected to the seven-year old (!!!) can, but thankfully, the solid waste collecting part has yet to act up. Still, we can imagine that folks on board are already fearing the worst. NASA officials have stated that they are currently mulling the idea of tossing a few parts on the Discovery just before it lifts off next week for a planned docking trip, which we can only hope pans out. Godspeed just took on a whole new meaning.

[Image courtesy of Nohoz, thanks System48]

[Colin Potter @ May 28th 2008 2:58AM]

if i were them, i'd be seriously pissed off!

[v3xx @ May 28th 2008 3:45AM]

zing

[Ayman @ May 28th 2008 7:56AM]

technically they are pissing off

[v3xx @ May 28th 2008 8:30AM]

i would have said pissed ON as opposed to off.

[Ayman @ May 28th 2008 9:34AM]

I said off since i think they jettison it to space, unless they keep the waste to accumulate then dump it

[Interpol @ May 28th 2008 1:27PM]

Red Alert, Number One! We're having difficulty with Number Two!

[Gorillamonk @ May 28th 2008 2:31PM]

Just as the conversation was getting good, someone had to go and mess it up.

[Dolemite @ May 28th 2008 2:59AM]

Let us all hope that the sh!t does not hit the cosmic fan.

[akballow @ May 28th 2008 3:00AM]

It could be worse. If both the solid and liquid part of the thing was broken and they did not have the seven year old can.

[Sasha S. @ May 28th 2008 3:00AM]

7 days to get the plumbing fixed. Not bad for NASA - I wish my local plumber was that fast. ;-)

[Joe Commisso @ May 28th 2008 3:05AM]

It's late, and I initially thought it read "forced to urinate in a "jury-rigged system" that's connected a seven-year old."

Than I re-read it and realized I'm just tired & skipping words thankfully.

For a moment I was worried R-Kelly was now a guest writer for endgadget.

[Low Ranked @ May 28th 2008 12:51PM]

Actually, I think most of us would be relieved if he wrote here.

[Sleeper_Service @ May 28th 2008 3:23AM]

When you gotta go, you gotta go. Mankind will always find an ingenious system to enable a pee when needed.

[ChiWax @ May 28th 2008 3:24AM]

Send "This Old House" up there for a remodeling....Q

[Mike @ May 28th 2008 3:32AM]

Pun time: This is a crappy situation.

[Mike @ May 28th 2008 3:34AM]

No Shit.

[Mike @ May 28th 2008 3:35AM]

If NASA doesn't fix this soon, the shit's going to hit the fan.

[Mike @ May 28th 2008 3:36AM]

Space agencies are always having trouble with defecative equipment.

[Mike @ May 28th 2008 3:38AM]

This whole section is a waste.

[r3loaded @ May 28th 2008 3:49AM]

Oh shit, what will they do?

[Vagrant @ May 28th 2008 3:36AM]

To bad Homes on Homes stopped doing his show.

On a side note...that guy looks like a bartender friend in Roppongi.

[Sean T. @ May 28th 2008 4:08AM]

Panic doesn't 'sink' in the micro-gravity environment of the orbiting space station.

It just floats around with the turds....

[Garst @ May 28th 2008 4:27AM]

Too bad they just can't open the back door and let the cosmos be their toilet like we can do down here.

[Benhur @ May 28th 2008 4:31AM]

Right! Out the air lock. Spread the building blocks of life through the galaxy.

[John @ May 28th 2008 4:37AM]

What is "jury-rigged" supposed to mean? Did CNN mean "jerry-rigged"?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jerry-rig

[Mr. Vage @ May 28th 2008 6:50AM]

No, jury-rigged is the correct term. You are thinking of jerry-built.

[Sparky @ May 28th 2008 4:38AM]

NASA's Number One Priority.

[Tom @ May 28th 2008 8:33AM]

NASA's only just considering fixing it at this point. Obviously, it's their number two priority.

[Jherez @ May 28th 2008 9:31AM]

NASA: Number One in the Number Two Business

[richard knights @ May 28th 2008 4:41AM]

ooh how exciting, its just like Apollo 13 where they had to sort out the carbon dioxide filter using carboard boxes and bits of plastic.

[Michael B @ May 28th 2008 5:30AM]

They should so go with the Macguyver solution!

"Anybody got some gum?!"

[Wonderkid @ May 28th 2008 6:22AM]

Someones taking the piss(er)...

[Ron Smith @ May 28th 2008 7:20AM]

For liquid waste they still have Apollo-style bags as backups, while the solid disposal part is working just fine. Right now the crew is using the toilet located in Soyuz, though it only lasts for 5-days. Plenty of time to solve this problem, it is just a minor inconvenience.

[IT-Accountant @ May 28th 2008 9:48AM]

I'm waiting for the next space shuttle announcement: "Your attention please: due to technical difficulties, we ask that you please not urinate or defecate for the next seven days. Your cooperation is appreciated. Thank you."

[PS3guy @ May 28th 2008 10:02AM]

Shit in space lol

[David @ May 28th 2008 12:59PM]

"get spazzed"

Could the author of this article please refrain from using offensive slang in future...If their obviously limited vocabulary allows for this of course..

[Robert @ May 28th 2008 1:12PM]

Shitter is full!!!
[National Lampoon's]

[Robert @ May 28th 2008 1:21PM]

Sorry David, I meant the $#&%$!@ is full!!!
My lack of vocabulary skills got the best of me.

[Interpol @ May 28th 2008 1:27PM]

"Houston, we have a problem. No, really. WE HAVE A PROBLEM."

[David @ May 28th 2008 1:40PM]

It's already been fixed:

http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/25358

[WilsonGoneWild @ May 28th 2008 6:09PM]

Crap.

[GRANNYJ @ Jun 1st 2008 12:57PM]

OH, THOSE ASTRONAUTS ARE FULL OF IT. SOMEBODY CALL JACK STEFANOVICH. ADEE-DO!