Artemis II astronauts more than halfway to the moon, seek to break Apollo 13 record

Crew faces toilet troubles as they approach lunar milestone

Apr. 4, 2026 at 11:09pm

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The Artemis II astronauts, including the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon, are now more than halfway to their lunar destination as they aim to break the distance record set by Apollo 13. However, the crew has been dealing with an ongoing issue with their spacecraft's toilet system.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission is a critical step in NASA's plans for a sustainable human presence on the moon, with the goal of landing astronauts near the lunar south pole by 2028. Breaking the Apollo 13 distance record would be a significant milestone, while the toilet troubles highlight the technical challenges of long-duration spaceflight.

The details

The four-person Artemis II crew - Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen - are currently more than halfway to the moon. Their Orion capsule is poised to set a new distance record for human spaceflight, traveling over 252,000 miles (400,000 km) from Earth before heading back home without entering lunar orbit. However, the crew has been dealing with an ongoing issue with their spacecraft's toilet, which has been malfunctioning since launch. Mission Control has instructed the astronauts to use backup urine collection bags until the problem can be resolved.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 4, 2026.
  • The crew is expected to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, after a nearly 10-day mission.

The players

Victor Glover

Pilot of the Artemis II mission and the first Black astronaut to travel to the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

Canadian astronaut on the Artemis II mission, the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

Christina Koch

Astronaut on the Artemis II mission, the first female astronaut to travel to the moon.

Reid Wiseman

Astronaut on the Artemis II mission.

Lisa Campbell

President of the Canadian Space Agency.

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What they’re saying

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

— Victor Glover, Pilot, Artemis II mission

“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, President, Canadian Space Agency

“I've already witnessed 'extraordinary' views from NASA's Orion capsule.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Astronaut, Artemis II mission

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is expected to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026, marking the successful completion of their nearly 10-day mission. NASA is aiming to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028 as part of its plans for a sustainable moon base.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission is a significant milestone in humanity's return to the moon, with the crew set to break the distance record set by Apollo 13. While the astronauts have faced technical challenges, such as the ongoing toilet issues, their journey represents the continued progress and innovation in space exploration, including the participation of international partners like Canada.