Artemis II took off on Wednesday evening (April 1), with the crew bound for a 10-day mission around the Moon.
The historic mission, which is the first lunar fly-around mission in over 50 years, aims to collect data and imagery from deep space and set the stage for a future Moon landing.
However, moments after takeoff, crew members encountered a problem that could have made the long journey far more challenging.
Highlights
- Artemis II launched on April 1 for a 10-day lunar mission, the first crewed Moon fly-around in over 50 years.
- Shortly after liftoff, the astronauts detected a jam in the high-tech toilet.
- The $23M Universal Waste Management System lets astronauts flush urine into space.
Image credits: Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images
At first, the astronauts told mission control, "Toilet is powered, waste tank merged."
A few minutes later, though, they reported that the toilet's amber warning light was on, with mission control responding that they would need some time to fix the issue.
“The toilet fan is reported to be jammed,” NASA spokesperson Gary Jordan said during live mission commentary, as per Space.com. “Now the ground teams are coming up with instructions on how to get into the fan and clear that area to revive the toilet for the mission.”
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Norm Knight, NASA’s director of flight operations, then explained that the malfunction was due to a controller issue in the toilet.
Officials confirmed the space toilet could still be used for number two, but not for number one.
“The fecal collection of the toilet, that specific capability, can still be used with the waste management system aboard Orion,” Jordan said.
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Fortunately, Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch managed to repair the high-tech toilet with the help of mission control.
"Happy to report that toilet is go for use,” mission control's Amy Dill told Koch over the radio, adding, ”We do recommend letting the system get to operating speed before donating fluid, and then letting it run a little bit after donation.”
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When astronauts first made their way to the Moon, they did so without a toilet, using bags to do their business. The new bathroom, called the Universal Waste Management System, offers not only comfort but also privacy aboard the cramped spacecraft.
“We’re pretty fortunate as a crew to have a toilet with a door on this tiny spacecraft,” Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said in a video tour of Orion before the launch.
“(It’s) the one place we can go during the mission where we can actually feel like we’re alone for a moment.”
NASA confirmed that astronauts could still use the toilet for number two, but not for liquid
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The toilet cost $23 million to build, according to the BBC.
The waste management system was designed so that urine can be flushed out into space, while feces are collected in a bag at the bottom. Astronauts seal that bag and compress it into a canister. These sealed containers will ride back to Earth for disposal.
Image credits: NASA
The four astronauts aboard Orion will eat a menu that many netizens found surprising, with some noting that the food makes it all the more important that the toilet was fixed.
According to NASA, each astronaut is allotted two flavored beverages per day, which may include coffee, a pineapple drink, cocoa, or a vanilla-flavored drink, among other options.
The Universal Waste Management System gives astronauts a rare moment of privacy in the cramped Orion capsule
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Astronauts have scheduled time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal options include tortillas, breakfast sausage, spicy green beans, mac & cheese, and vegetable quiches.
“There are five different hot sauces flying around the Moon with the crew,” NASA shared.
“Food selections are developed in coordination with space food experts and the crew to balance calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake while accommodating individual crew preferences.”
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“Foods must be easy to prepare and consume in microgravity, minimize crumbs, and remain safe and stable throughout the mission,” NASA added.
Astronauts use Orion’s potable water dispenser to rehydrate foods and beverages, as well as a compact food warmer to heat meals.
The crew’s menu includes tortillas, mac & cheese, and even five different hot sauces
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The four-person crew, composed of Reid Weisman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will not land on the Moon but will circle it, traveling farther into space than anyone has before.
This mission aims to test the Orion space capsule and lay the groundwork for a Moon landing in the Artemis IV mission, planned for 2028.
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The last crewed Moon mission was Apollo 17, which landed in 1972.
Historically, 24 astronauts have traveled to the Moon, and 12 of them have walked on its surface.
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