[Reading Science] The 'First Space Poop Incident' That Happened on Apollo 10

NASA Felt the Need to Solve Waste Disposal Issues Since Early Space Development
Famous 'Unidentified Excrement Object' Incident During Apollo 10 Mission
Researched and Developed Solutions Like Vacuum Suction Toilets
Recently Held Contests to Find Solutions in Space Suit Development
Also Studied Using Feces to Produce Space Food

"What do you do if you suddenly need to use the bathroom in space?"

This question came to mind while looking at the lunar landing spacesuit unveiled by NASA on the 15th. NASA, in collaboration with Axiom Space, revealed a newly developed Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit. They introduced it as lighter, more flexible, with better visibility, stronger protection, and equipped with special tools compared to previous models. However, they did not specify how astronauts handle urgent bathroom needs.

Photo by Pixabay

In fact, waste management has long been a challenge for astronauts. In 2016, NASA even offered a $30,000 prize for the "space poop challenge." At that time, NASA solicited ideas on how to manage bathroom needs in space. The first prize went to Dr. Daecheo Kaden, who proposed creating a small hole near the groin area to relieve oneself while preventing air from escaping. Second place was awarded to the SPUDS team, who designed a local protective suit that uses airflow to expel waste. Third place went to British designer Hugo Sellie, who suggested sterilizing and storing waste inside the spacesuit. NASA is known to have incorporated some of these ideas into the development of the new spacesuit.

Since the early days of space exploration, NASA has recognized the importance of solving the bathroom problem in space. According to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) blog, it all started with Alan Shepard, who flew aboard the first manned spacecraft, Freedom 7, in May 1961. Shepard spent only 15 minutes in space, but a 4-hour delay during the launch countdown due to bad weather and mechanical issues caused him to have to fight the urge to urinate. Ultimately, he had to urinate in his spacesuit because removing it to use a restroom would have delayed the launch further.

The astronauts of the Apollo program, who achieved humanity’s first moon landing, also struggled with bathroom issues. Among these, the Apollo 10 "Unidentified Fecal Object" incident is a famous anecdote. While orbiting the moon, a foul smell and floating feces suddenly appeared inside the Apollo 10 cabin. The astronauts argued over who was responsible. "Who did it?" "Someone give me a napkin, there’s turd floating in the air." "It wasn’t me." These conversations were later declassified. NASA internally suspected John Young, known as a prankster, but the culprit was never confirmed. NASA still refers to this episode as the "first space poop incident" or the "Unidentified Fecal Object," and it remains a topic of discussion.

Toilet installed on the International Space Station (ISS). Photo by NASA

After such incidents, NASA intensified research to provide astronauts with proper restroom facilities. This led to the development of a vacuum-like toilet for spacecraft. During the Apollo program, astronauts used funnel-shaped urinals, and feces were stored in bags. It was only after the construction of Skylab and the International Space Station (ISS), where there was enough space to install restrooms, that vacuum suction toilets were installed and are currently in use. Urine is sucked through a funnel attached to a hose, purified, and reused as drinking water. Feces are collected and either jettisoned into the atmosphere via cargo ships for incineration or stored for health checks on Earth before disposal. The cost of developing and installing the water purification system and toilets on the ISS has exceeded $250 million (approximately 300 billion KRW).

Astronauts also use specially made diapers for emergencies. Inside the spacecraft, the zero-gravity environment causes waste to float around uncontrollably if not properly managed. Additionally, sending waste outside would create space debris that, moving at tremendous speeds around Earth, could threaten satellites, the ISS, and astronauts.

Recently, new uses for astronaut waste have been researched. As shown in the movie Martian, dried waste mixed with activated bacteria and water can become excellent soil for growing food in space. In fact, a research team at Pennsylvania State University developed such a system and successfully cultivated tomatoes and potatoes.