Developing a Next Generation Space Potty

Lavatory On-Orbit (LOO)

The Lavatory On-Orbit (LOO) Team successfully presented a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) package at the end of June 2025 to stakeholders: Blue Origin, Crew Co, HLS, and KBR, and the team is now pressing forward excited to have a toilet that astronauts will enjoy using. The project brings along with it many quips and jokes. But, behind the humor is a vital need and serious achievement. The PDR is a critical checkpoint in the life cycle of any hardware project, and for the LOO team, it marks a significant turning point. What made this milestone even more impactful was the fact that the original design and proposal were furloughed just weeks before the original PDR presentation. With Blue Origin’s renewed interest in a working toilet, the LOO was resurrected. Faced with new parameters and constraints, the team pivoted, demonstrating remarkable adaptability, focus and technical skill, pulling together innovative solutions that not only met requirements, but are impressing stakeholders everywhere.

Lavatory On-Orbit (LOO)

The PDR Presentation was well received, with stakeholders responding overwhelmingly positively to the clarity and direction backed by data-driven decision-making. The renewed commitment to astronaut acceptance and system reliability remains at the forefront. From concept sketches to CAD models and material testing, the team showcased a cohesive vision of what the next-gen orbital lavatory could and should be.

With the PDR phase behind the team, the project enters a new chapter. Gearing up for a new set of design requirements for the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase. The team is now working to complete the fabrication and integration of simple systems to make the smartest dumb toilet. Creating a toilet for a mission landing on the lunar surface means factoring in new environmental constraints, while still meeting usability and maintainability standards.

While LOO may always lend itself to a few well-timed puns, the dedication behind the project is no laughing matter. As space flight evolves, so must every part of the mission experience, and that includes the essentials. The LOO team is proud to be contributing to a more comfortable, sustainable, and efficient future for human space exploration.

Lavatory On-Orbit (LOO) - Handheld

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