Artemis II Astronauts Encounter Toilet Troubles on Historic Lunar Flyby

Crew works to fix malfunctioning bathroom as they speed toward the moon, aiming to break Apollo 13's distance record.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:04am

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The four-person Artemis II crew, including the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon, are more than halfway to their lunar destination. However, the spacecraft's toilet has been acting up since liftoff, forcing the astronauts to rely on backup urine collection bags. Mission Control suspects ice may be blocking the toilet's plumbing, but the crew is still able to use the facility for other functions. Despite the bathroom issues, the astronauts are preparing for their historic flyby of the moon, which will set a new distance record for human spaceflight.

Why it matters

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed lunar flight since the Apollo program ended in 1972, paving the way for a sustainable human presence on the moon. While toilet troubles are a common challenge in spaceflight, the Artemis II crew's ability to troubleshoot and adapt will be crucial as NASA works toward its goal of landing astronauts near the lunar south pole by 2028.

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 liftoff, with issues including ice blockages and an unpleasant odor. Mission Control has instructed the crew to use backup urine collection bags until the toilet can be fixed. Despite the bathroom troubles, the astronauts are preparing for their historic lunar flyby, which will take them farther from Earth than any human has traveled since the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.

  • The Artemis II crew launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The toilet issues began shortly after liftoff on April 3.
  • The crew is expected to reach the moon on April 10, 2026.
  • The mission is scheduled to end with a Pacific splashdown on April 10, 2026.

The players

Victor Glover

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

Reid Wiseman

One of the four Artemis II astronauts.

Christina Koch

One of the four Artemis II astronauts and the first female astronaut to fly to the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

The first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon as part of the Artemis II crew.

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, 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

The Artemis II crew is expected to set a new distance record for human spaceflight when they reach their closest approach to the moon on April 10. After their lunar flyby, the astronauts will begin their journey back to Earth, aiming for a Pacific splashdown later that day.

The takeaway

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in humanity's return to the moon, with the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years. While the crew has faced some unexpected challenges with their spacecraft's toilet, their ability to adapt and troubleshoot technical issues will be crucial as NASA works toward its goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.