Artemis II Crew Fixes Toilet Malfunction on Orion Spacecraft After Launch

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission repaired a malfunction in the Orion spacecraft's Universal Waste Management System shortly after the mission's launch on April 1, 2026.

Astronaut Christina Koch addressed the issue, which involved a jammed fan in the urine collection system. In a light-hearted exchange with mission control, she embraced the role of the mission's "first space plumber." NASA confirmed the toilet was restored to normal operation within hours, allowing the crew to continue their 10-day lunar orbit mission.

The Artemis II crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. The mission marks the first crewed lunar flight in more than 50 years and the first voyage beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo program.

Artemis II is testing NASA's Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket ahead of future crewed lunar landings. The successful resolution of the waste management issue ensured the crew could proceed with their objectives without further interruption.