SouthernWorldwide.com – The Artemis II astronauts have shared details about how they managed the toilet challenges encountered during their historic lunar mission, responding to questions from children during a live segment on “CBS Mornings.”
These plumbing issues gained significant media attention in the early days of the Artemis mission. The crew experienced intermittent toilet problems starting from the very first day. After initial issues with the system’s fan were resolved, the vent line responsible for expelling waste into space became frozen, preventing the waste tank from emptying.
NASA flight controllers subsequently adjusted the orientation of the Orion capsule. This maneuver allowed sunlight to warm the vent, which helped to alleviate the clog.
During a town hall event held on Friday morning, a 9-year-old named Bridget inquired about the crew’s approach to handling these plumbing difficulties.
“What did you do when the toilet broke? Did you just let it fly around?” she asked, prompting laughter from both the astronauts and the audience.
Mission specialist Christina Koch explained that while the astronauts and NASA engineers were actively working on solutions, the crew aboard the Orion capsule utilized backup methods to maintain hygiene.
“Everything on the spaceship typically has a backup system, so fortunately, the engineers had anticipated this, and we used our backup system,” Koch stated. “We got through it. It wasn’t as convenient as our advanced, functional toilet, but we managed.”
The backup system in this instance involved “contingency collapsible urinals,” also known as CCUs. These are plastic containers designed to collect urine, which is then vented into space at a later time. Each crew member is equipped with two of these devices, as previously reported by CBS News.
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Veteran astronaut Don Pettit noted on X that the CCUs effectively replace approximately 25 pounds of diapers.
Each Artemis II crew member has two collapsible contingency urinals, or CCUs, for use when their Orion capsule’s toilet is not available. The CCUs can vent waste water overboard independent of the toilet.NASA
Earlier in the town hall, pilot Victor Glover humorously remarked that given “the challenges we had, we were constantly thinking about the constellation Urion,” a play on words referencing frozen urine droplets expelled into space.
Further questions regarding hygiene were raised throughout the town hall. “CBS Mornings” anchor Gayle King expressed curiosity about the astronauts’ methods for staying clean.
“How do you stay clean up there?” King inquired. “Showers, birdbaths?”
“I think showers in space are wonderful,” Koch responded. “Floating, water.”
Watch the full episode, “Things That Matter: A Town Hall with the Artemis Astronauts,” here.
