Space station toilet down, residents line up for relief

Mission Control advised the crew to hang an "out of service" sign on the toilet until the toilet can be fixed. The six space station residents had to get in line to use a back-up toilet in the Russian part of the station, and Endeavour's seven astronauts were confined to the shuttle bathroom.

    Belgian Frank De Winne and American Michael Barratt were assigned to repair the toilet and they had to wear goggles, gloves and masks. They ripped apart the compartment, working well into the evening. Mission Control finally asked them to stop and resume the effort Monday morning.

    Flight director Brian Smith declined to speculate whether overuse caused the toilet trouble.

    If repairs fails, Apollo-era urine collection bags are on hand, NASA said, Kazinform cites Xinhuanet. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.