Photo via NST
As you may or may not know, the US’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has long been trying to find a solution for astronauts to have access to a toilet in space.
There are space toilets already in use now, but they are only designed for microgravity (when astronauts and objects float in space), and not for the moon’s gravity.
So NASA decided to “outsource” new ideas for a smaller, more efficient toilet, capable of working in both microgravity and the moon’s gravity, by holding a design competition earlier this year called the Lunar Loo Challenge.
And it looks like a 9-year-old Malaysian boy may have just found the answer!
Zyson Kang Zy Sun’s ‘Spacesuit Lunar Toilet’ recently won the top prize of the prestigious competition (Junior Category), beating out almost 900 participants from 85 countries.
Photo via Facebook
As the name suggests, it’s designed specifically to fit inside an astronaut's spacesuit, and it works around microgravity in space by creating a vacuum to suck up liquids (yes, pee and what not).
Astronauts need only move their leg to relieve themselves, thus channeling their urine into a container stored in their boots.
And it doesn’t even need batteries or electricity!
Kang’s coach at the I-Discovery World science center in Selangor said the boy is destined for science.
“Zyson has a knack for inventions. He is an avid reader with an extremely curious mind. Science simply excites him, especially astronomy,” said Chong Soo Sheong.
Chong and Kang started the project in June, and after submitting the idea in August, Kang was invited to present his model at a webinar last week (October 29th), and the NASA team was impressed by its simplicity.
It’s understood that Kang’s design could also benefit doctors and nurses if they need to relieve themselves while handling emergency cases.
“For instance, medical personnel will normally have to remove or change out of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if they have to go to the toilet while handling COVID-19 patients,” Chong explained.
“Zyson's compact toilet model will allow doctors and nurses to catch their toilet breaks during an emergency without having to change or remove their PPE gowns,” he added.
Kang isn’t the only Malaysian who received recognition from NASA.
Photo via FMT
Last week, 38-year-old engineer Kevin Lim Chin Seong also got an honourable mention for his ‘Fully Self-Contained Lunar Toilet’ design in the adult category, and you can read about his story here.
Oh, and here’s how a space toilet works now just in case you were wondering…
Keep up the good work, Zyson!
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
