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| Urine Collection Device |
| DTO 690 |
| Overview |
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This DTO will evaluate several sizes and types of manual urine collection devices and their adapters (anatomical interface) in microgravity for fit, leakage, hygiene (residual urine on adapter), and ease of use. An improved UCD would have two primary benefits. Used as a backup for the orbiter's waste collection system, it would allow a mission to continue if the WCS failed. Currently, missions must be cut short if the WCS fails. Second, an improved UCD would allow women to participate in scientific studies requiring the collection of urine. Female subjects have not been able to use existing UCDs successfully. Male astronauts have also experienced problems with the existing UCDs in the areas of leakage, fit, and urine remaining in the dead volume. Therefore, a secondary objective of this study will be to design and evaluate improvements of the male interface. The final designs will be flown on all missions that require the collection of urine samples as either the primary method of collection or as a backup to an automated urine collection system that has been proposed for the space station. This is the second of eight planned flights for this DTO. Its first flight was on STS-91. |
Editorial/Technical Comments: ShuttlePresskit
