The waste collection system (WCS) is the ShuttleÕs toilet. The WCS is stored in a closet next to the mid-deck entry hatch. It is much like a regular toilet except it has a negative airflow system (similar to that on an airplane) that sucks all the waste to the bottom of the toilet. Liquid waste is stored and later ejected into space.
<p>
Solid waste goes into a sealed container where it is processed and stored. It is not released into the vacuum of space. Occasionally it is examined by scientists on Earth. They use it to study how the human body loses minerals while in space. This helps them understand how microgravity affects bodily functions.
