Finally, after years of mystery and intrigue, we have the answer to a question asked since John Glenn and Friendship 7 first captured the world’s imagination. Thanks to European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, we now know how one goes to the bathroom in space. And the answer is, basically: With a tube, a lot of suction, and a new appreciation for gravity.
In the video above, Cristoforetti gives a tour of the International Space Station’s toilet, and while the technology used to dispose one’s bodily fluids is undeniably impressive, it will almost certainly give you a new appreciation for regular old indoor plumbing.
