Artemis II Astronauts Encounter Toilet Troubles While Racing Toward Lunar Milestone
HOUSTON — Approaching the halfway mark to the moon, the Artemis II crew is gearing up for a groundbreaking lunar fly-around, aiming to venture further into space than any Apollo mission before them.
However, a persistent issue has arisen: their toilet is malfunctioning once again.
The crew, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, is scheduled to reach their destination on Monday, capturing images of the enigmatic far side of the moon as they orbit. This mission marks the first crewed lunar journey in over 53 years, continuing the legacy of NASA’s Apollo program.
“The Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger,” pilot Victor Glover noted, reflecting on their journey.
In light of the Orion capsule’s bathroom issues, Mission Control has advised the astronauts to utilize backup urine collection bags. The lunar toilet has been unreliable since its launch on Wednesday, with functionality fluctuating. A prototype of this toilet was previously tested aboard the International Space Station.
Engineers suspect that ice may be obstructing the plumbing, hindering proper waste disposal. Fortunately, the toilet remains operational for solid waste.
Debbie Korth, NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, mentioned that astronauts have reported an unpleasant odor emanating from the bathroom, which is discreetly located beneath a door and curtain within the capsule.
“Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand... it’s always a challenge,” she remarked, recalling similar issues with the space shuttle's facilities.
John Honeycutt, head of the mission management team, acknowledged the public's fascination with space toilets. He expressed hope for full functionality, stating, “They’re OK,” referring to the astronauts. “They trained to manage through the situation.”
Artemis II is set to break records for human distance traveled, covering over 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth before executing a U-turn behind the moon and returning home without entering lunar orbit. This record currently belongs to Apollo 13.
The Canadian Space Agency proudly highlighted its contribution to the mission, featuring astronaut Jeremy Hansen from Quebec as he embarks on his lunar journey. Hansen is notably the first non-U.S. citizen to travel to the moon.
“Today he is making history for Canada,” stated Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell. “As we watch him taking this bold step into the unknown, let his journey remind us that Canada’s future is written by those who dare to reach for more.”
During a live televised connection, Hansen shared that he has already experienced “extraordinary” views from NASA’s Orion capsule.
Hansen, Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch represent the first group of astronauts to head toward the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972. Notably, Koch and Glover are recognized as the first female and first Black astronauts to reach lunar territory.
Their nearly 10-day mission will conclude with a Pacific splashdown on April 10 and serves as a pivotal step in NASA’s ambitious plans for establishing a sustainable moon base. The agency aims for a crewed landing near the lunar south pole by 2028.
