While the topic of relieving ourselves isn't something most of us want to concern ourselves with, there is one question many of us have asked at some point: how exactly do astronauts poop in space?
Well, thanks to one particular NASA astronaut, you won't have to trouble yourselves with pages upon pages of Quora threads to find the answer to this one.
Chris Cassidy, a former NAVY seal and the 500th person to go to space, very kindly made a video on the subject earlier this week on October 6.
At the start of the seven-minute YouTube video, Cassidy refers to the whole poop situation as "by far the most common question we get asked as astronauts."
Check out the informative video below:
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In the video, Cassidy gives us a tour of the ISS "waste and hygiene compartment" - a restroom cubicle similar to that on an airplane.
According to the astronaut, the cubicle is situated in a high traffic area where people are continuously coming and going. This, of course, does not leave the toilet user with much privacy.
The actual toilet is a very small bucket-like device with a lid, which holds "about 30 deposits".
Demonstrating a "number two" using green beans and mushrooms, Cassidy shows that the deposit is caught by a small bag. The toilet user has to take the bag off the rim, close it, and push it right into the base of the contraption with all the other deposits. It is then the responsibility of the toilet goer to put a new bag in.
Related - Study finds that many public pools contain poop:
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Peeing in space seems a lot simpler based on Cassidy's explanation. You just relieve yourself into a small funnel which is attached to a hose that sucks the urine into the container.
A number of viewers have since taken to the comments to share their thoughts on the astronaut's in-depth explanation.
One person wrote: "Wow, this is the most detailed WHC tour (including the baggie swap) on the interwebs! Had not seen that in any other astronaut's videos!"
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Another said: Jeez, I thought astronauts would have a better pooping solution than pooping in a bag and shoving it into a bucket with a stick."
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A third shared: "But Chris that bag is not big enough, especially after eating chipotle."
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