April 14, 2026
Houston, we have a bathroom situation
Let's Talk Space Toilets
Astronauts clench, commenters gag: the internet can’t stop talking space toilets
TLDR: Space travelers still rely on cramped, noisy suction toilets and often try not to go until they reach the space station. Commenters split between gagging at the details, making “successful docking” jokes, and debating whether to invest in better toilets or artificial gravity to use normal ones.
Space fans just learned the dirtiest open secret in orbit: astronauts try not to go at all. The article lays it out with steak-and-eggs “low residue” breakfasts, tiny suction seats, and a legendary nine-day hold from Gemini’s Frank Borman. The vibes? Equal parts awe, gag reflex, and pure meme energy.
User the_af basically wrote the thesis: astronauts avoid going, and when they finally do, everyone suffers. That set the tone as readers volleyed between hero worship and horrified laughter. Ambicapter chimed in with “Not a great lunch read,” which instantly became the thread’s unofficial warning label.
The community’s favorite jaw-dropper: training on Earth with a camera pointed up the practice toilet so you can, as one commenter highlighted, “center one’s nether eye in the crosshairs.” Cue a flood of “successful docking” jokes and mission-control puns. Detourdog begged for pics and offered a consolation Space toilet link that everyone clicked while wincing.
Meanwhile, ooterness kicked off the big fight: build a better space loo or build ships with spinning sections for fake gravity so we can use normal toilets? The pragmatic crowd said “fans are cheaper than spaceships,” while dreamers lobbied for a sci‑fi spin section. In the middle: folks just asking for less noise, fewer smells, and a seat wider than a bagel. Verdict? Space is hard—and messy—but the comments are absolutely priceless.
Key Points
- •Astronauts use low-residue diets and medication to minimize defecation in cramped capsules with rudimentary toilets.
- •Crew Dragon transits can exceed two days, during which crews often delay bowel movements until station facilities are available.
- •Frank Borman reportedly avoided defecation for nine days on Gemini 7; Apollo missions exposed severe waste system inadequacies.
- •Apollo sanitation involved hour-long procedures with antimicrobial bags and persistent odor; a usable toilet took 12 years after first human spaceflight.
- •In zero gravity, body positioning requires aids, waste must be separated by airflow (narrow 4–6 inch seats, noisy fans), and waste must be sequestered.