A Children's Question that Stumped Me. Going #2 in Orbit.

[BigDon]

Well I guess the title says most of it. That and was it true or just urban legend that the Apollo Astronauts used big diapers and small meals? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Argos]

Some info on
>> Food (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/ATTM/nojs/food.4.html)
>> Health and hygiene (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/ATTM/nojs/a11.jo.he.1.html).

[ToSeek]

Scroll down here. (http://quest.nasa.gov/projects/space/astronaut/nov02/111402t_3.html) Basically, I think it involved a plastic bag with a ring of adhesive material at the opening, and some wipes. And not so much small meals as "low-residue" meals, which is why the traditional astronaut pre-launch meal is steak and eggs - not much fiber there!

[BigDon]

Thanks guys, that was embarrassing to ask. But I didn't know.

[PhantomWolf]

During Apollo 11, Buzz demonstrates how to make lunch. He makes a ham paste sandwich.

[Gemini]

William R. Pogue's "How do you go to the Bathroom in Space"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031287295X/102-7674008-8807345?v=glance&n=283155

Q&A type book, I checked it out at the middle school library many times.


Excuse my grammar

[Frog march]

IS the urine tube the sort of thing they use in hospitals ie a catheter(tube that goes into the bladder and continually drains it of fluid)?

[Dragon Star]

IS the urine tube the sort of thing they use in hospitals ie a catheter(tube that goes into the bladder and continually drains it of fluid)?

There is no way! Those things burn like hell and would affect their concentration. It would be under the astronauts control I am sure.


I check it out at the middle school library many times.

:eh:

[Frog march]

There is no way! Those things burn like hell and would affect their concentration. It would be under the astronauts control I am sure.


oh, no; I had a catheter when I was in hospital a few years back, they don't hurt , well mine didn't as far as I remember,but there is the drawback that if you have them in too long they can make you incontinent for a while when you take them out.

[BigDon]

More than likely something simular to what A6 aircrews use. Looks sort of like a semi-ridgid condom with a line running from the bottom that goes directly out the aircraft. Called a relief tube. F-14 and A7 aircrews used a relief bag with a simular "interface". And I didn't want to go there but...

Once during wargames off of Diego Garcia an A7 pilot left on patrol without any relief bags and substituted a ziplock bag for same. Flying high cap he saw an opposing bird several thousand feet below him, inverted, and pulled a 5g dive. You know, ziplock bags aren't built to the same specs as relief bags? Even sadder for him is the fact that a long tradition in the Navy states that cleaning up any bodily fluid in the aircraft, other than blood, is the responsible party's duty. Not the ground crew's.

Even funnier....
This made the rounds after the fact, as such a story would. The crewman of an A6 also called a naval flight officer or NFO, wrote out a MAF (maintainance action form) stating that the relief tube was too short. The ground crewman went out, measured it and wrote on the paperwork, "Relief tube within NATOPS specs, NFO improperly equipped".

Yeah, he got in trouble.

[Frog march]

well ,I was thinking that a catheter wouldn't work very well in zero gravity as the urine could run back into the bladder, which would be unhealthy.

[Click Ticker]

oh, no; I had a catheter when I was in hospital a few years back, they don't hurt , well mine didn't as far as I remember,but there is the drawback that if you have them in too long they can make you incontinent for a while when you take them out.

Not only that, but they can leave scar tissue behind that will lead to infections later on that hurt like anything. Then you'll have to have the scar tissue surgically removed 15 years later.

Or so I've heard.

[mugaliens]

I believe the technical term of the current means of ensure waste has been appropriately processes is the "air-....-separator," but I'm having a difficult time remembering the middle portion, or, for that matter, the acronym it spells. I do recall a few military buddies throwing this term around late one night at a bar, though.

Regardless, there's got to be a way to hygenically form an air/water-tight seal, do one's business, flush, clean, and proceed on to the next task: Pulling one's pants back up.

[Metricyard]

Regardless, there's got to be a way to hygenically form an air/water-tight seal, do one's business, flush, clean, and proceed on to the next task: Pulling one's pants back up.

Wouldn't putting a hose attached to the hull that was connected to the outside work? Nothing like a vaccuum to assist in your body fumctions.:dance:

[ToSeek]

And there goes Frank Borman's large intestine now.... ;)