How to Poop in Space: A Guide to Astronaut Toilets and More

Maybe you think Porta Potties are gross, or refuse to use public restrooms at all, because ick. But have you ever thought about how astronauts deal with waste and other bodily functions in space? Disposing of human waste in space is an entirely different state of affairs than here on Earth - and some of the facts on this list will make even the nastiest public bathroom look like a palace. The human body works a lot differently when not subject to Earth's gravity, meaning that even sneezing and sweating becomes much more complicated.

Waste disposal in space is essential, but without sewers, how is it done? What's the deal with peeing in space? What if you bleed? NASA and other international space agencies have solved all these problems in miraculous ways, but that doesn't mean they have made them any less gross. Which of these facts about bodily fluids and waste in space gross you out the most? Vote up the most disgusting things astronauts have to deal with.

Dead Skin Falls Off in Chunks

On Earth, we shed dead skin cells easily, thanks to gravity. Unfortunately, this is a luxury that astronauts don't have in space. Without gravity, the dead skin gets trapped until eventually chunks of skin particles float off of your body.

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Astronaut Sweat Sometimes Sticks to the Walls

Astronaut Sweat Sometimes Stic... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Grossest Facts About Bodily Functions & Waste in Space — Photo: Minghong/Wikimedia Commons

Astronauts sweat in space just like the rest of us here on Earth, but the difference is that their sweat actually sticks to their bodies, instead of evaporating. NASA Astronaut Mike Hopkins said that sweat creates a pool on your head and arms and can quickly run into your eyes. He also stated that often when astronauts do their exercises on the ISS, the sweat flings off of their bodies and sticks to the walls of the station.

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Pooping in Space Is All About Accuracy

Pooping in Space Is All About ... is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Grossest Facts About Bodily Functions & Waste in Space — Photo: Feline Groovy/flickr/CC-BY-ND 2.0

Pooping in space is not exactly pleasant, as far as bodily waste is concerned. The toilet on the ISS has a very small opening waste goes through, so you basically have to aim by guessing and hope for the best.

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Astronauts Drink Their Own Urine

How does the ISS maintain a constant supply of the drinking water humans need to survive? By having astronauts drink their own urine, of course. It sounds disgusting, but the urine they drink is completely purified before consumtion and perfectly safe.

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