The toilet became blocked, but luckily the astronauts have tools and spare parts on board to repair the installation. The blocked toilet is a problem because it is linked to the station's water purification system. If the repairs are not successful, drinking water supplies could be in jeopardy. In the meantime astronauts on the ISS are able to use a different toilet. At present there are 13 astronauts and cosmonauts in the ISS.

WC unblocked

On Tuesday came the liberating news that the blocked toilet on the ISS had been repaired. Belgian astronaut Frank De Winne and the ISS commander replaced a number of parts into which a chemical liquid had seeped.



All on board the space station now once again have permission to use the installation.



After less than a day the "out of order" notice that NASA had asked the astronauts to affix to the loo could be removed.