英语新闻视频 NASA buys Russian toilet system for ISS

 

 

At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, engineers are getting ready for a new toilet system. The Russian-designed system will be installed next year, well in time for the expansion of the International Space Station in 2009.
NASA has signed a contract to purchase a toilet system designed in Russia for the International Space Station's planned expansion.
The new system features privacy enclosure and is similar to one already in use at the International Space Station in the Zvezda Service Module¹.
Experts say designing a bathroom for use in space is a lot more complicated than most people think.
Jim Broyan, NASA habitability hardware manager, said, "Designing and building a toilet in space is very difficult. It's been sometimes referred to, it's easy to do here on the ground, maybe the equivalent of putting your toilet on the ceiling and seeing how easy it was to use because you're working against gravity in space in the absence of gravity."
The most fundamental difference between a bathroom on earth and one in space is that in space, both men and women use a funnel² for urine collection. The funnel is attached to a flexible hose, which can be emptied into a waste collection system.
The funnel, moreover, can be used in a standing³ position, or be attached to a commode by a pivoting⁴ mounting bracket for use in a sitting position.
Two foot restraints are employed in the current model on board each space shuttle. They will also be used for the new Russian model.
As with the current system, the new toilet will separate urine into various components⁵ and, through a series of filters, collect water for re-use.
Since there's no plunger in space, astronauts will be given rudimentary lessons in the plumbing⁶ structure, in case the system is  clogged up.
flexible  hose: 软管
clog up :堵塞

1 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

2 funnel   

n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集

参考例句：

• He poured the petrol into the car through a funnel.他用一个漏斗把汽油灌入汽车。
• I like the ship with a yellow funnel.我喜欢那条有黄烟囱的船。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 pivoting   

n.绕轴旋转，绕公共法线旋转v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的现在分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开

参考例句：

• Here is a neat YouTube video showing the Gyro's pivoting mechanism. 这里是一个整洁的YouTube视频显示陀螺仪的旋转机制。 来自互联网
• Dart pivoting is widely used in the gannent pattern design. 省道转移的原理在服装纸样设计中应用十分广泛。 来自互联网

5 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

6 plumbing   

n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究

参考例句：

• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche. 她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。
• They're going to have to put in new plumbing. 他们将需要安装新的水管。 来自《简明英汉词典》