When Alan Shepard became the first American in space in 1961, NASA had not considered how their new astronauts were supposed to relieve themselves.
But after eight hours on the ground before liftoff, Alan Shepard had to go to the restroom. And so, he did, in his spacesuit. That first soggy ride was the beginning of a long series of experiments to answer the question, “How do we go to the bathroom in space?”
EXHIBIT ARTIFACT
Skylab Waste Management Substation
What to expect:
Learn about how waste is managed in space
Read about Alan Shepard's historic ride
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