NASA Is Sending A $23 Million Toilet To The ISS For Astronauts To Boldly Go

NASA will be launching a $23 million toilet to the International Space Station (ISS) next week. Astronauts will be able to take the toilet for a test run before it’s used in future missions to Mars.

According to NASA, The Universal Waste Management System, as it’s known in scientific terms, will launch on Sept. 29. NASA says it’s 65% smaller, and 40% lighter than the toilet currently being used. The new toilet has also been redesigned so astronauts have to clean it less. Score!

Fun fact: urine from this super expensive toilet is recycled, filtered, and processed, so astronauts can drink it afterwards.

Without gravity, airflow is used to pull urine and waste away from the body. This also helps with odor control. Astronauts use a funnel and hose contraption for urine, and the actual toilet seat for bowel movements.

NASA hasn’t said how much toilet paper they’ll be sending up to the astronauts…but we hope they stocked up in case any pandemic-panic shortages happen again.