The Artemis II astronauts are now more than halfway to the moon and are gearing up for their groundbreaking lunar fly-around mission. This mission will venture deeper into space than any Apollo astronauts have gone before. Despite this exciting milestone, the astronauts are facing issues with their onboard toilet system.
The team, consisting of three Americans and one Canadian, is scheduled to arrive at their destination on Monday and will capture images of the enigmatic lunar far side during their orbit. This mission marks the resumption of crewed lunar journeys after a gap of over 53 years following NASA’s Apollo program.
Pilot Victor Glover remarked on the changing perspective as they approached the moon, noting the Earth appearing smaller and the moon growing larger in their view. However, a toilet malfunction on the Orion capsule has posed challenges for the astronauts. Mission control has advised them to utilize additional backup urine collection bags until the issue is resolved. The malfunction is suspected to be caused by ice obstructing the system, preventing proper waste disposal. Despite this, the toilet remains functional for solid waste.
NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, Debbie Korth, mentioned that dealing with space toilet issues is a common challenge and recalled similar problems with the space shuttle restroom. The astronauts have also reported a concerning odor emanating from the onboard bathroom, which is located beneath the capsule floor for privacy.
While the toilet situation is being addressed, John Honeycutt, the mission management team chair, emphasized the importance of ensuring that all systems are functioning optimally for the crew’s comfort and safety. The astronauts have been trained to handle such contingencies, and engineers are working to rectify the toilet problem promptly.
Artemis II is on track to break human distance records, traveling over 400,000 kilometers from Earth before looping behind the moon and returning without entering its orbit. This feat is expected to surpass the previous record set by Apollo 13. The Canadian Space Agency praised Canada’s involvement in the mission, highlighting astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s historic role as the first non-U.S. citizen to venture towards the moon.
The mission, which includes astronauts Hansen, Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, aims to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10 after nearly 10 days in space. This endeavor marks the initial phase of NASA’s ambitious plans for establishing a sustainable lunar outpost, with a target for a manned landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.
