What must an astronaut ensure when using the urine funnel to prevent a disastrous floating sphere?
Answer
Maintaining the necessary suction via the vacuum system
The mechanics of voiding in microgravity are entirely dependent on the vacuum system established by the ISS commode. For liquid waste, this involves carefully aligning a funnel attached to a hose and ensuring that the vacuum system, powered by a fan, is active and providing sufficient suction. If the astronaut fails to maintain the necessary airflow or if the alignment is incorrect, the lack of downward force means the liquid will not naturally flow into the collection device. Instead, an immediate and disastrous outcome would be the formation of a floating sphere of urine drifting away from the apparatus.
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