---
title: "NASA’s New Space Toilet Is Heading to the Space Station For, Uh, Tests"
description: "NASA is about to ship a major, long-overdue upgrade up to the International Space Station (ISS) to handle one of the less savory sides of space travel: a $23 million titanium space toilet. The toilet, the first new one NASA’s installed in 30 years, is apparently going to undergo a months-long, well, field […]"
date: "2020-10-01"
modified: "2020-10-01"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-new-space-toilet-heading-station-tests"
categories:
  - "NASA"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "artemis"
  - "NASA"
  - "space toilet"
  - "the digest"
---

# NASA’s New Space Toilet Is Heading to the Space Station For, Uh, Tests

![NASA is about to send a $23 million space toilet up to the International Space Station — its first new toilet in 30 years — for a test run.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nasa-space-toilet-space-station-tests.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA\</em\>*

## Delivering Cargo

NASA is about to ship a major, [long-overdue upgrade](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/space-station-toilet-smells-horrible>) up to the International Space Station (ISS) to handle one of the less savory sides of space travel: a $23 million titanium space toilet.

The toilet, the first one NASA's installed [in 30 years](<https://futurism.com/space-station-new-toilet>), is apparently going to undergo a months-long, well, field test, [according to the *Associated Press*](<https://apnews.com/article/business-spacex-archive-moon-f06581fe70515ae7608304af8e6a44fb>). Aside from being an [important renovation project](<https://futurism.com/space-station-bathroom-disgusting>), the toilet is expected to accommodate increased traffic to the ISS expected in the near future, as well as being designed to be more inclusive.

## Splash Landing

The existing [toilet on the ISS](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/iss-toilet-russia-american>) — which isn't being removed — was largely designed for men. Because of its inaccessible design, using it is an unpleasant ordeal for women, the *AP* reports, which the new design is supposed to fix.

If it does, and all goes well with the test, the design will also be [used on the Artemis missions](<https://apnews.com/article/business-spacex-archive-moon-f06581fe70515ae7608304af8e6a44fb>) that seek to send astronauts back to the Moon.

## Free Floating

The new design is meant to be more comfortable and to prevent spills through an elaborate air suction system, according to the *AP*. Solid waste is sealed off until landing, and liquids are filtered into drinking and cleaning water.

"Cleaning up a mess is a big deal. We don’t want any misses or escapes," project manager Melissa McKinley of the Johnson Space Center told the *AP*.

**READ MORE:** [Potty training: NASA tests new $23M titanium space toilet](<https://apnews.com/article/business-spacex-archive-moon-f06581fe70515ae7608304af8e6a44fb>) \[*Associated Press*\]

**More on waste management:** *[NASA Says It Needs a New Space Toilet for the Artemis Moon Missions](<https://futurism.com/nasa-call-space-toilet>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)