Why SpaceX Astronauts Return to Earth Wearing Diapers?

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Four astronauts wore adult diapers and embarked on their return to Earth after the toilet on the spacecraft of SpaceX, the American space exploration company led by Elon Musk, broke down.

According to the AP News and others on the 8th (local time), four astronauts from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the European Space Agency (ESA), who were staying at the International Space Station (ISS), departed for Earth aboard SpaceX's spacecraft 'Crew Dragon.'

The SpaceX spacecraft carrying the astronauts is scheduled to splash down off the coast of Florida at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time that day (12:30 p.m. Korean time on the 9th).

The time it takes for the four astronauts to undock from the ISS, board the spacecraft, and return to Earth is approximately eight hours.

The passengers are Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur (affiliated with NASA), Akihiko Hoshide (JAXA), and Thomas Pesquet (ESA).

SpaceX and NASA announced the safe return of the astronauts but revealed there was a minor issue.

During the orbital flight back to Earth, the spacecraft's toilet became unusable.

In September, SpaceX discovered a problem with the toilet on another 'Crew Dragon' spacecraft during an inspection, where urine leaked onto the floor.

This occurred due to a malfunction in the tube that directs urine to the storage tank.

SpaceX requested astronauts to check if the same issue existed on the spacecraft docked at the ISS, and the same problem was found.

SpaceX concluded that the leaked urine did not structurally damage the spacecraft and would not affect the return flight, but toilet use was prohibited.

Accordingly, the astronauts wore a type of adult diaper for the return trip, AP News reported.

NASA described these diapers as highly absorbent space underwear.

Astronaut McArthur said in a remote press conference before the return flight that using diapers is "not ideal," but "we are prepared, and spaceflight is full of many small challenges, so we are not overly concerned."

SpaceX, under contract with NASA, transports astronauts and cargo to the ISS and plans to send four new astronauts back to the ISS as early as the end of this week.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.