Artemis II Astronauts Grapple with Toilet Troubles in Space

Frozen urine and burning smells plague the Orion capsule on its journey to the moon

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:40pm

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The four astronauts on the Artemis II mission are facing a series of toilet-related issues as their Orion capsule travels nearly 200,000 miles from Earth to the moon. From a malfunctioning pump to a frozen urine line, the crew has had to resort to using backup systems similar to those employed by Apollo astronauts in the 1960s.

Why it matters

Reliable waste management is a critical but often overlooked aspect of long-duration spaceflight. These toilet troubles highlight the engineering challenges NASA continues to face as it pushes the boundaries of human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

The details

Shortly after launch, the Artemis II crew discovered the toilet's pump wasn't working properly, requiring them to manually prime the system. More recently, the astronauts encountered a frozen urine line that is preventing the waste management system from expelling waste outside the capsule. Mission controllers are working to warm up the line and restore functionality. The crew has also reported a burning smell coming from the bathroom, likely due to the gasket material around the door.

  • On Wednesday, the Artemis II crew launched to orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  • On Thursday, the crew celebrated fixing the initial toilet pump issue during a virtual interview.
  • In the early hours of Saturday, the frozen urine line problem arose as the Orion capsule was nearly 200,000 miles from Earth.

The players

Artemis II Crew

The four-person crew of the Artemis II mission, including NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

Judd Frieling

Artemis II Flight Director, who briefed reporters on the toilet issues.

Collins Aerospace

The company that holds a $30 million contract to design and adapt the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) technology for the Orion spacecraft.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud to call myself the space plumber. We were all breathing a sigh of relief when it turned out to be just fine. We did originally think that there could have been potentially something fouling up the motor.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Astronaut

“I like to say that it is probably the most important piece of equipment on board.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis II Astronaut

“Give me a napkin, quick. Here's another goddamn turd.”

— Thomas Stafford, Apollo 10 Astronaut

What’s next

Mission controllers will continue to troubleshoot the frozen urine line issue in the hopes of restoring the Orion toilet's functionality. The Artemis II crew is more than halfway to the moon, with a critical lunar flyby maneuver scheduled for this weekend.

The takeaway

Reliable waste management remains a persistent challenge for long-duration human spaceflight, as evidenced by the toilet troubles plaguing the Artemis II mission. These issues highlight the engineering complexities NASA must overcome to enable safe and comfortable deep-space exploration.