Space and URINE!

I'll bet you a nickel that you've never stopped to think about how astronauts accommodate the needs of their urinary system while on a mission. What a weird thing to wonder, right? Well, the following post will enlighten your noggin.

Both male and female astronauts urinate into a funnel, nicknamed Mr. Thirsty, which is attached to a tube. A gentle vacuum then sucks the urine into a tube without spilling a drop. When the tank is full, it shoots the urine outside, where it freezes into clouds of ice crystals that look like stars. Astronaut Wally Schirra liked to call it "Constellation Urion."

The International Space Station is building a system to purify and reuse the water in urine, of both humans and animals. NASA estimates that 72 rats urinate about as much as one astronaut. 

Source #1 Source #2

Also, here's a random bonus urine related fact:

Circulatory System Quiz Review

The Pulmonary system carries deoxygenated blood out from the pulmonary arteries to the lungs, so that it can become oxygenated. Oxygenated blood then comes back from the lungs through the pulmonary veins, and into the left atrium. From there, the systemic system comes into play. The systemic system carries oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Arteries are thick-walled, and carry oxygenated blood throughout the body. Veins are thinner-walled, and carry deoxygenated blood throughout the body; they are thicker in diameter and contain many valves, to prevent blood from flowing backward due to gravitational forces. Pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood blood; pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood.

Blood flow from the common carotid artery to the aorta:

common carotid artery -> brain -> jugular vein -> superior vena cava -> right atrium -> av (tricuspid) valve -> right ventricle -> pulmonary semilunar valve -> pulmonary trunk -> pulmonary arteries -> lungs -> pulmonary veins -> left atrium -> av (bicuspid/mitral) valve -> left ventricle -> aortic semilunar valve -> aorta

Three major modifications of the fetal circulation system are the foramenovale, ductus arteriosis, and ductus venosus. The foramenovale is a hole in the heart, located in between the atria; blood flows through this hole to bypass the lungs, as a fetus is not required to breathe. The ductus arteriosis is a hole in between the pulmonary trunk and aorta, which is also for blood to bypass the lungs. The ductus venosus is a channel in the fetus, joining the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava; it carries oxygen rich blood from the placenta to the baybee.

Playland!

So, today turned out to be way more fun than I had expected. We went on some rides, ate some food, and soaked in some sun. Good times, good times. I couldn't take many good pictures because it was bright, and everything was moving, but here are the ones that turned out quite well.

Thanks for organizing this trip, Ms. Phillips!