While the spacecraft’s voyage back to Earth following a historic trip around the Moon has been smooth, the Orion capsule’s USD 23 million Universal Waste Management System, designed to flush wastewater into space, has developed a stubborn clog
The Artemis II crew pose inside the Orion spacecraft as they head back to Earth after looping around the Moon. PIC/AFP
The Artemis II crew is facing a critical issue unrelated to their mission. While the spacecraft’s voyage back to Earth following a historic trip around the Moon has been smooth, the Orion capsule’s USD 23 million Universal Waste Management System, designed to discharge wastewater into space, has developed a blockage.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials believe a chemical reaction in the urine treatment system is generating debris that is blocking a filter, news agency AFP reported.
The space toilet is one of the most essential pieces of equipment on board. The crew has had to troubleshoot a few issues to use the Universal Waste Management System. So what exactly is the issue? Find out in this explainer video. pic.twitter.com/cfvgyGyEUD
— NASA (@NASA) April 10, 2026
The separate faecal disposal system is functioning normally. However, the wastewater tank is not evacuating properly.
Astronaut Christina Koch reported a “burning heater smell” coming from the system. On Tuesday, Flight Director Rick Henfling assured that “the toilet remains operational”, but added that the crew is facing challenges in evacuating the wastewater tank, AFP reported.
As a temporary measure, the four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are using personal reusable collapsible contingency urine disposal devices (backup urine bags).
The issue first surfaced just hours after launch from Cape Canaveral on April 1. Koch quickly stepped in, adjusted controls, and restarted the system with help from mission control, earning herself the title of “space plumber”.
NASA suspects chemical reaction as toilet glitch persists despite initial fixes on Orion
“I’m proud to call myself a space plumber,” Koch said during a briefing from the spacecraft.
She described the toilet as “probably the most important piece of equipment on board”.
However, the problem has persisted despite initial fixes. NASA first suspected ice formation in the filters and even rotated the spacecraft to face the Sun to “bake off” any frozen urine, but the blockage continued, AFP reported.
“The latest theory is related to some of the chemistry that goes into ensuring that the wastewater doesn’t develop any biofilms,” Henfling explained.
The chemical reaction may be producing debris that clogs the filter.
The toilet on Orion is similar to the one used on the International Space Station, but this is the first time it has been deployed on a crewed deep-space mission. Unlike Apollo astronauts who used simple bags, Orion’s system is far more advanced — located beneath the floor in the only private space on the cramped capsule. It features suction for microgravity and is notably noisy, requiring ear protection.
Feces are collected in disposable bags that will be brought back to Earth for analysis.
The quirky issue has become a regular topic at press briefings at Johnson Space Center in Houston — evoking memories of the famous 1970 Apollo 13 line: “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”
NASA officials say they will thoroughly investigate the root cause once Orion splashes down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday.
(With inputs from AFP)
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