Astronauts queue for the loo

Astronauts are facing the down-to-earth problem of a broken loo. Photograph: Nasa

In the scale of things, it's not as bad as a malfunctioning computer trying to seize control of your spaceship or having a lethal alien on board. Instead the problem for 13 astronauts on the crowded space shuttle and space station is much more down to earth: a bunged-up toilet.

With the main toilet on the international space station broken down, the six residents in the space station are down to just one loo, while the seven-member crew of the shuttle Endeavour are restricted to the spacecraft's toilet.