Artemis II astronauts are pushing deeper into space toward the moon, but NASA said the Orion capsule’s toilet has broken down again during the flight. With the crew more than halfway to its destination, Mission Control has been working around the issue as the spacecraft heads for a Monday lunar flyaround, when it will photograph the far side of the moon.
NASA said the Artemis II crew has been instructed to expand the use of backup urine-collection bags until the bathroom is corrected. The “lunar loo” malfunctioned after Wednesday’s launch and has been hit-and-miss since, according to the Orion program team, which has also previously tested a version of the toilet aboard the International Space Station.
In Mission Control’s latest assessment, engineers suspected ice may be blocking a line that prevents urine from completely flushing overboard. Even with that suspected blockage, NASA said the toilet remains available for “No. 2” use.
Debbie Korth, NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, said the astronauts reported additional problems tied to the bathroom compartment, including a smell from the area. Korth said space toilets and bathrooms are difficult and noted that the space shuttle toilet also often had issues, while the Orion bathroom is built into the floor of the capsule with a door and curtain for privacy.
John Honeycutt, chair of the mission management team, said the crew is handling the situation. He said it is “in a good state right now” but also expressed a desire for the system to work at full capacity.
The Artemis II mission is designed to be a milestone for human spaceflight as NASA prepares for its longer-term plans, including a future lunar landing near the south pole. The nearly 10-day trip will end with a Pacific splashdown on April 10, and the flight is also positioned to break the Apollo 13 distance record.
NASA said Artemis II is poised to travel more than 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth, then turn behind the moon and head home without stopping or entering lunar orbit. The record for that distance is currently held by Apollo 13, according to NASA’s mission briefing.
The Canadian Space Agency also marked the spacecraft’s progress, noting that astronaut Jeremy Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon. Speaking from Quebec during a live linkup, Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell said Hansen was making history for Canada as he continued toward his lunar rendezvous.
During the televised communication, Hansen said he had already seen “extraordinary” views from inside NASA’s Orion capsule. Hansen will fly alongside Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, who are the first lunar astronauts since Apollo 17’s crew of three in 1972.
Koch and Glover are the first female and first Black astronauts to reach the moon, NASA said. The mission is the first step in NASA’s plans for a sustainable moon base, with NASA aiming for a landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028.