Artemis II astronauts talk mission toilet troubles: "We made do"
The Artemis II astronauts discussed toilet malfunctions during their mission around the moon, explaining that they relied on backup systems to manage waste. Despite plumbing issues involving a frozen vent line, the crew maintained hygiene using contingency equipment. They humorously addressed the challenges during a live town hall with students and media.
- ▪The Artemis II mission experienced toilet issues due to a frozen vent line that prevented waste from being properly expelled.
- ▪NASA flight controllers reoriented the Orion capsule to use sunlight to thaw the clog and restore partial functionality.
- ▪Astronauts used contingency collapsible urinals (CCUs), which are portable plastic containers for urine collection and overboard venting.
- ▪Mission specialist Christina Koch emphasized that backup systems allowed the crew to manage the situation despite the inconvenience.
- ▪Pilot Victor Glover made a lighthearted comment about the 'constellation Urion' in reference to frozen urine droplets in space.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
CBS Mornings Artemis II astronauts talk mission toilet troubles: "We made do" .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-cbs-mornings.jpg'); } By Kerry Breen Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio Kerry Breen May 1, 2026 / 9:08 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Artemis II crew addressed how they handled the toilet troubles aboard their historic mission around the moon while taking questions from children live on CBS Mornings.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at CBS News — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from CBS News — Top
