Not content to repeat the great space toilet fiasco of 2008, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency has developed a wearable space toilet. Yes, that’s right: a wearable space toilet. It’s only a matter of time before this thing gets turned into a consumer product, too.
“Clean and easy to use, the envisioned space toilet is designed to be worn like a diaper around the astronaut’s waist at all times. Sensors detect when the user relieves him or herself, automatically activating a rear-mounted suction unit that draws the waste away from the body through tubes into a separate container. In addition to washing and drying the wearer after each use, the next-generation space toilet will incorporate features that eliminate unwanted sound and odor.”
It’s actually not a terrible idea if you don’t mind the whole crapping-in-your-own pants thing, especially since using current-day space toilets can be a bit tricky due to the lack of gravity up there in the heavens. Here’s to hoping that astronauts returning to Earth can readjust to terrestrial defecation etiquette accordingly.
[via Neatorama]