{"id":54745,"date":"2026-04-02T16:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=54745"},"modified":"2026-04-02T16:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T16:40:00","slug":"out-of-orbit-nasas-artemis-ii-faces-toilet-trouble-nasa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/04\/02\/out-of-orbit-nasas-artemis-ii-faces-toilet-trouble-nasa\/","title":{"rendered":"Out of orbit: Nasa\u2019s Artemis II faces toilet trouble | Nasa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A blinking fault light on Nasa\u2019s Orion spacecraft signalled an unwelcome setback at the start of the historic Artemis II mission: the toilet was out of order.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Fortunately for the four astronauts on board for the 10-day mission, the issue was quickly resolved, with mission control confirming: \u201cHappy to report that toilet is go for use. We do recommend letting the system get to operating speed before donating fluid, and then letting it run a little bit after donation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And despite the shaky start, the spacecraft\u2019s $30m Universal Waste Management System (UMWS) has been hailed as a leap forward in deep space toilet technology. The system was years in development and designed to improve on longstanding complaints from astronauts about onboard facilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On the Apollo missions, astronauts were required to pee into a condom-like contraption placed under the spacesuit (all Apollo crew being male). Solid waste was collected into a bag taped to the astronaut\u2019s buttocks. The setup was prone to leaks, with one mission transcript recording an alarmed crew member noticing \u201ca turd floating through the air\u201d. And while a Nasa report concluded that the primitive setup had broadly met its objectives from a purely engineering standpoint, it \u201cmust be given poor marks\u201d for crew satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The upgrade to the UWMS has seen Orion fitted with a private toilet cubicle \u2013 a first for a spaceshuttle \u2013 accessed through a door on the floor next to the hatch that astronauts use to enter the spacecraft. Handrails and foot tethers will allow the crew to remain secure while visiting the bathroom.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"9a3e4422-9bc0-4275-98b4-7d2361a8b785\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><svg width=\"18\" height=\"13\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 13\"><path d=\"M18 3.5v8l-1.5 1.5h-15l-1.5-1.5v-8l1.5-1.5h3.5l2-2h4l2 2h3.5l1.5 1.5zm-9 7.5c1.9 0 3.5-1.6 3.5-3.5s-1.6-3.5-3.5-3.5-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.5 3.5z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch, right, during the activation of the Orion spacecraft\u2019s toilet system before launch.<\/span> Photograph: James Blair\/Nasa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWe\u2019re pretty fortunate as a crew to get a toilet with a door on this tiny spacecraft,\u201d said Jeremy Hansen, a mission specialist on Artemis II from the Canadian Space Agency, in a video ahead of launch. \u201cThe one place during the mission where we can go and actually feel like we\u2019re alone for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"6ca16a63-ef1b-4627-bdc0-e4f22b8c4a05\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:7,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Artemis II marks Nasa\u2019s new moon age, wrapped in patriotism and global promise&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6ca16a63-ef1b-4627-bdc0-e4f22b8c4a05&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/science\/2026\/apr\/02\/artemis-ii-nasa-moon-launch-american-moment&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The toilet has a funnel attached to a hose for urine and is fitted with a small seat. Since everything floats in space, the faeces are sucked down into a bag at the base of the toilet bowl, which is then squished down into a cannister. The suction is so noisy, that the cubical is lined with insulation and the crew must wear ear protection while inside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">During longer missions, such as visits to the International Space Station, astronauts now recycle almost all liquid waste, processing urine and sweat to turn it into drinkable water. But on a short mission such as Artemis II, the crew will vent urine out of the spacecraft every day, and faecal waste stores in a collection container that will be disposed of on return to Earth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The toilet system goes beyond being a small luxury for the crew. A central objective of Nasa\u2019s Artemis programme is establishing a permanent presence in space. This requires waste to be dealt with sustainably, without risks to astronaut health. Leaks also need to be avoided to prevent contamination of the pristine environment of space with microbes from Earth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cActually thinking about, not only toilets, but the entire life support systems, is one of the foundations of long term living in space,\u201d said David Munns, professor of the history of science and technology at the City University of New York. \u201cHaving the ability to deal with waste is mission-critical.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#orbit #Nasas #Artemis #faces #toilet #trouble #Nasa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A blinking fault light on Nasa\u2019s Orion spacecraft signalled an unwelcome setback at the start of the historic Artemis II&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54745"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54746,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54745\/revisions\/54746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}