Collection and Containment of Solid Human Waste for Space Station

Human waste collection and containment have presented difficulties and challenges for manned space flight. Prime objectives of this new improved type of human waste collection subsystem selected for the Space Station Freedom are to gain crew acceptance of waste collection and containment in a safe and convenient manner.

This system also operates with a minimum of power and requires no overboard venting to space. The human waste collection subsystem features individual disposable bags for fecal collection with mechanized compaction and in flight removable canisters that allow natural biodegradation of the stored solid waste.