Artemis II Astronauts Face Toilet Troubles on Historic Lunar Flyby

The crew's lunar loo has been acting up since launch, forcing them to rely on backup urine collection bags.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:36am

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The Artemis II astronauts, including the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon, are more than halfway to their lunar destination. However, the toilet aboard their Orion capsule is malfunctioning, forcing the crew to use backup urine collection bags. Engineers suspect ice may be blocking the line, preventing complete flushing, and the astronauts have also reported a smell coming from the bathroom. Despite the toilet troubles, the mission remains on track to set a new distance record for human spaceflight.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's plans for a sustainable moon base, marking the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo era. The toilet issues highlight the technical challenges of long-duration space travel and the importance of reliable life support systems for future deep space missions.

The details

The Artemis II astronauts - Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen - are set to reach the moon on Monday. Their Orion capsule's toilet has been malfunctioning since launch, with the so-called 'lunar loo' experiencing issues with flushing urine overboard. Engineers suspect ice is blocking the line, and the astronauts have also reported a smell coming from the bathroom. Mission Control has instructed the crew to use backup urine collection bags until the toilet can be fixed.

  • The Artemis II astronauts launched on Wednesday, April 3, 2026.
  • The crew is expected to reach the moon on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The mission is scheduled to end with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Victor Glover

A pilot on the Artemis II mission and the first Black astronaut to fly to the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian astronaut and the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

Christina Koch

An Artemis II astronaut and the first female astronaut to fly to the moon.

Reid Wiseman

One of the four Artemis II astronauts.

Debbie Korth

NASA's Orion program deputy manager.

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What they’re saying

“The Earth is quite small, and the moon is definitely getting bigger.”

— Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot

“Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand. ... It's always a challenge.”

— Debbie Korth, NASA's Orion program deputy manager

“Today he is making history for Canada. As we watch him taking this bold step into the unknown, let his journey remind us that Canada's future is written by those who dare to reach for more.”

— Lisa Campbell, Canadian Space Agency President

What’s next

Engineers will continue to work on resolving the toilet issue aboard the Orion capsule, with the goal of having it fully operational before the Artemis II crew returns to Earth on Friday.

The takeaway

The toilet troubles aboard Artemis II highlight the technical challenges of long-duration space travel and the importance of reliable life support systems for future deep space missions. However, the historic nature of this lunar flyby, including the participation of the first non-U.S. citizen and the first female and Black astronauts to the moon, underscores the significant progress being made in space exploration.