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Space station crew to NASA: Send plumber soon

by stvalentine | May 28, 2008 at 01:55 am

332 views | 5 Recommendations | 7 comments

The international space station's lone toilet is broken, leaving the crew with almost nowhere to go. So NASA may order an in-orbit plumbing service call when space shuttle Discovery visits next week.

Until then, the three-man crew will have to make do with a jury-rigged system when they need to urinate.

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Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:32 on May 28th, 2008

stvalentine, I like this story. It's good stuff. Ya know, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go, Space being the exception when space suits don't come with Feeties and a Butt Flap. One wonders how much the 4-hour minimum plus parts call charge is for a Plumber in Deep Space, certainly equal to some third worlds GNP.

Rachel Nixon

at 08:19 on May 28th, 2008

Good point Barry. What indeed is the callout charge for a space plumber?

Barry Artiste

at 14:53 on May 28th, 2008

Apparently Jordan here has an inside on a Space Plumber.

Hey Rachel and Jordan, can you just imagine his Travel expenses, lets see 1000 kilometers at say $0.43 cents a kilometer IS $430.00. Once the Government takes off Taxes, then there is wear an tear on the Space Shuttle! Holy Crap, it isn't even worth the trip straight up, unless that Plumber can find a more longer route as I am sure Rocket Fuel cost more than Premium

PEP

at 15:14 on May 28th, 2008

For fun, one of the first astronauts submitted a mileage chit.

Jordan Yerman

at 08:23 on May 28th, 2008

"We can have a guy up there in 4-9 hours, depending on traffic and the launch window. If yoru space station is not in geo-synchronous orbit, that'll cost extra."