NASA packs new toilet parts on shuttle for ISS

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — NASA stowed replacement parts aboard the Discovery shuttle Thursday to be sent up to the International Space station to fix its broken Russian toilet, the US space agency said.

After the main ISS toilet broke down Tuesday, forcing the three astronauts aboard to use the facility on the Soyuz capsule moored at the orbiting station, Russian and US space officials moved quickly to get the spare parts and a pump together in time to be sent up on Discovery, scheduled to launch Saturday.

NASA said the main ISS toilet works for solid waste disposal but has an intermittent problem handling liquid waste, after three flushes requiring 10 minutes of maintenance work by two crew members.

"It is very inconvenient at this time because it requires a lot...