They pissed it. You may have missed it.
Recently, there was a fascinating glow in the sky that moved observers to ponder just what it might be.
I am assuming that Space.com is an authoritative source of information, for it informs me that the glow that was seen in the sky by so many last Wednesday was, indeed, astronauts' urine.
NASA spokeswoman Kylie Clem told a press conference that this aurora boreapiss was the result of the space shuttle Discovery releasing an unusual amount of water and urine into outer space.
I have never consciously weighed urine--not even my very strange biology teacher asked me to do that. But apparently about 150 pounds of liquid was sprinkled upon the stars.
Such a large release is relatively new, Clem said, and is related to recent restrictions on waste disposal while the space shuttle is docked with the International Space Station.
Regardless, when you release liquid waste matter into space it apparently freezes. Then the sun bathes it in its beams, turning it into vapor, and it wafts away in a glorious glow like a July 4th firework breathing its last.
Some observers even sent pictures in to SpaceWeather.com. (Go to September 10 in the archives.)
I hope this all doesn't mean that astronauts have stopped drinking their recycled urine.
Either way, it is reassuring that their waste matter is still giving someone at least a moment's psychological uplift before it disappears into the dark beyond.
I know readers of this site have strong constitutions.
But as the NASA rocket thingy shot up to the skies last night for another interesting mission, the only thing on my mind was the water they will drink.
Because it appears that they will be testing the idea of sipping their own recycled urine.
I know, I know. There are many cities in the world where the tap water is undrinkable. And I had hoped that this was merely a cost-cutting move in our tight times. But the fact is that this wastewater recycling gizmoid cost $250 million and is one of the featured experiments on this trip. Two more nuggets of information that make my natural ease turn to quease.
"We did blind taste tests of the water. Nobody had any strong objections. Other than a faint taste of iodine, it is just as refreshing as any other kind of water," NASA's lead urinary engineer Bob Bagdigian told the Daily Telegraph.
I understand that it's not easy keeping astronauts hydrated out there in the black beyond. And I know that there have even been Prime Ministers who swore by drinking their own entirely unrecycled piddle.
But some small part of me wishes there was, as Tony Blair always used to waffle, a third way.
This will be one of the last ten flights of the Space Shuttle. It is being retired and after 2010 the only flights to the space station will be Soyuzes.
But the current aim is for 92% of all the water drunk on board to be produced by the crew's urinary tracts and the moisture in the air- some of which might be created, one supposes, by sweating crew members.
The claim is that the astronauts will only be testing the system and not drinking on this trip. However, if you're intrepid enough to squeeze into a shuttle then surely you have the gumption and fascination to take a small tot of your recycled liquid waste. Just like the trying the wine in a restaurant, isn't it?
Well yes, except that when you listen to the chemistry of the process, Lord, it might turn your tummy. They distill, filtrate and oxidate.
The final gourmet touch is the addition of that little smidgen of iodine to control microbial growth. Which I'm assuming is something to do with little mites feeding on your waste and having babies half way down your throat.
I am sorry. As Heidi Klum always says on Project Runway: "one day urine and the next day urout." I'm out.
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