Kicker - Space potty

NICK EICHER, HOST: Suppose you heard the federal government spent $23 million on a toilet, what would you say?

What if you heard—furthermore—the government had no intention of making it available for use anywhere on earth?

Well, that’s exactly what’s happening, but it’s not quite as outrageous as I’m making it sound.

AUDIO: 5-4-3-2-1‚ and liftoff. Sights set on the International Space Station.

Right, NASA launched a care package complete with some Thanksgiving goodies for the astronauts to enjoy, some pressurized air tanks to repair a leak, a virtual-reality camera to shoot some great video, and that titanium toilet more suitable for the use of women astronauts.

It’s NASA’s first new space toilet in decades—boldly going where few such fixtures have gone before!

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(Norah Moran/NASA via AP) In this June 18, 2020 photo provided by NASA, astronaut Kate Rubins, center, and support personnel review the Universal Waste Management System, a low-gravity space toilet, in Houston. 

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