The astronauts on the ISS will have a toilet: they used the Russian latrine for 6 months

NASA flight engineer Bob Hines conducted several tests this week, tweaking components and testing

operation of the new US toilet system.It was previously reported that due to problems with the restroom, the astronauts will use a Russian latrine. As a result, the installation of the new system took more than six months.

Meanwhile, having lived and worked on the spacestation six months, three cosmonauts are approaching departure. Commander Oleg Artemyev today prepared cargo for packing inside the Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft, which has been docked to the Prichal docking module since March 18. Roscosmos flight engineers Denis Matveev and Sergei Korsakov began preparations for the return to Earth. In addition, Matveev conducted a series of tests last week looking at how the space lab environment could be improved for biotech experiments. Korsakov spent his days servicing Russian electronics and computers.

American colleagues also conducted a number ofResearch: Bob Hines conducted a cognitive ability test to study standard performance. This is a research experiment performed on humans, the purpose of which is to characterize the adaptive responses and risks of life in space. 

Also, in microgravity conditions, a number ofspace physics research experiments: the team investigated how weightlessness affects various phenomena that people are familiar with on Earth. The absence of gravity affects the characteristics and behavior of terrestrial phenomena. This uncovers new features and insights that help scientists and engineers develop cutting-edge products and applications that benefit astronauts and earthlings alike.

NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkinsfocused on experimenting with foams and emulsions, examining samples under the KERMIT microscope to improve the production of consumer products. NASA flight engineer Kjell Lindgren swapped samples in a microgravity science glovebox to investigate the physics of an annular cut drop fluid to learn about highly concentrated protein fluids and enable the production of next-generation drugs to treat cancer and other diseases. ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti reconfigured the solid propellant ignition and extinguishing components. This experiment investigates the spread of fire and fire safety techniques in space.

Read more:

Scientists have come close to unraveling the secrets of the pyramids: how ancient people were able to build them

The mechanism of maintaining liver health in old age is revealed

Physicists explain Hawking's 'cosmic mismatch': how it will change science