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US Artemis II’s Moon Trip Faces Challenging Toilet Mission Again over Flushing
NASA says the odor remains unresolved but non-critical, and astronauts have continued using the toilet while controllers investigate possible causes.
- On Sunday, April 5, 2026, NASA astronauts aboard Artemis II reported a 'burning heater smell' from the $23 million toilet, though officials categorize the unresolved odor as non-critical for the moon-bound mission.
- Shortly after launch on April 1, the Upper Waste Management System experienced a urine hose fault, which astronaut Christina Koch repaired the following day, though the mysterious odor persists in the hygiene bay.
- Mission Control reassured the crew there are 'no major concerns,' while engineers suspect ice might be blocking the line and preventing urine from flushing overboard.
- While the toilet remains functional for 'No 2 business,' astronauts are using backup urine collection bags until the plumbing issue is resolved.
- The crew is scheduled to reach the Moon on Monday, pushing deeper into space than the Apollo program on a mission marking the first crewed lunar flight in more than 53 years.
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15 Articles
15 Articles
While everything seemed to be going well, an unexpected incident disturbs the daily lives of the astronauts of the Artemis II mission: the toilets
·Montreal, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources15
Leaning Left3Leaning Right4Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 38%
12%
R 50%
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