Timelapse video made during ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet’s second mission to the International Space Station, “Alpha”. The camera is setup to take pictures at intervals of two a second, and the pictures are then edited into this video that plays at 25 pictures a second. The video is around 12 times faster than real speed.

The activity spanned two days with each session around four hours of work to install a new toilet on the International Space Station. NASA’s Universal Waste Management System (UVWS) is a more versatile, lighter and compact toilet that will extract even more water from astronaut’s waste to be recycled. It also includes a more ergonomic design requiring less clean-up and maintenance time, with corrosion-resistant, durable parts to reduce the likelihood of maintenance outside of the set schedule. Less time spent on plumbing means more time for the crew to spend on science and other high-priority exploration focused tasks.

With the new toilet proving its worth on the Space Station, a second model will be included in the Orion spacecraft for astronauts to use as they travel to the Moon. ESA’s European Service Modules for Orion are powering the spacecraft and providing life support – water, air and a cosy temperature – for the astronauts on board.

Over 200 experiments are planned during Thomas’ time in space, with 40 European experiments and 12 new experiments led by the French space agency CNES.

Latest updates on the Alpha mission can be found via @esaspaceflight on Twitter, with more details on ESA’s exploration blog via thomaspesquet.esa.int.

Background information on the Alpha mission is available at www.esa.int/MissionAlpha with a brochure at www.esa.int/AlphaBrochure.