Artemis 2 Astronauts Grapple with Malfunctioning Moon Toilet

NASA's Artemis 2 mission to the moon is making headlines for an unexpected breakout star - the spacecraft's $23 million space toilet.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:09pm

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As the four-person crew of NASA's Artemis 2 mission prepares for their historic lunar flyby, the mission's $23 million space toilet has become an unlikely focus of attention. The toilet has experienced several issues, including a malfunctioning urine venting system and a mysterious "burning smell" in the hygiene compartment. Mission teams are working to troubleshoot and resolve the problems, but the crew has had to rely on backup "contingency urinal" devices in the meantime. Despite the toilet troubles, the Artemis 2 astronauts remain focused on their landmark mission to the moon.

Why it matters

The Artemis 2 mission's space toilet issues highlight the technical challenges of maintaining critical life support systems during long-duration spaceflight. As NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era, ensuring reliable and functional waste management systems will be crucial. The public fascination with the toilet problems also reflects a broader interest in the mundane but essential details of human space exploration.

The details

The Artemis 2 toilet, a more compact version of the International Space Station's facilities, has experienced several malfunctions since the mission launched on April 1. Shortly after launch, mission specialist Christina Koch was able to fix an issue with the toilet's urine function. However, the crew later reported a "burning smell" coming from the hygiene compartment, which engineers are still investigating. The toilet's urine venting system also stopped working properly, leading the crew to rely on backup "contingency urinal" devices until the issue could be resolved through a "bake out" procedure to clear any ice buildup.

  • On April 3, mission specialist Christina Koch fixed an issue with the toilet's urine function.
  • In the days following launch, the crew reported a "burning smell" coming from the hygiene compartment.
  • On April 4, the toilet's urine venting system stopped working properly, leading the crew to use backup urinal devices.
  • On April 5, the Orion spacecraft performed a "bake out" procedure to try to clear any ice buildup and restore the toilet's functionality.

The players

Christina Koch

A NASA mission specialist who was able to fix an issue with the Artemis 2 toilet's urine function shortly after launch.

Debbie Korth

The Orion spacecraft deputy program manager, who provided updates on the toilet issues to reporters.

Jacki Mahaffey

The Artemis 2 CapCom (Capsule Communicator) who communicated with the crew about the toilet problems.

Don Pettit

A NASA astronaut who shared photos of the "contingency urinal" devices being used by the Artemis 2 crew.

John Honeycutt

The chair of the Artemis 2 Mission Management Team, who acknowledged the public's interest in the toilet issues.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud to call myself the space plumber. I like to say that it is probably the most important piece of equipment on board. So we were all breathing a sigh of relief when it turned out to be just fine.”

— Christina Koch, NASA mission specialist

“So we don't know exactly yet. We're still troubleshooting where they might be coming from. [The engineering teams] think it might be more mechanical in nature — some tapes and some other materials that might be off-gassing — but it's really early in that investigation. So, [I] don't think there's any hazardous condition.”

— Debbie Korth, Orion spacecraft deputy program manager

“I think space toilets, and bathrooms, is something everybody can really understand. And we're flying it for the first time. Apollo didn't have that kind of technology in the vehicle.”

— Debbie Korth, Orion spacecraft deputy program manager

“I think the fixation on the toilet is kind of human nature, right? I mean, everybody knows how important that is to us here on Earth, and it's harder to manage in space … I'm interested in it, too.”

— John Honeycutt, Chair of the Artemis 2 Mission Management Team

What’s next

The Artemis 2 mission teams are continuing to investigate the source of the "burning smell" in the hygiene compartment and work to fully restore the functionality of the toilet's urine venting system. The crew will likely need to rely on the backup urinal devices until the issues are resolved.

The takeaway

The Artemis 2 mission's space toilet troubles highlight the technical challenges and public fascination with the mundane but essential details of human space exploration. As NASA prepares to return astronauts to the lunar surface, ensuring reliable waste management systems will be crucial to the success and safety of future missions.