The Artemis II mission faced an early setback when a blinking fault light indicated that the toilet on Nasa's Orion spacecraft was out of order. Mission control quickly resolved the issue, confirming, 'Happy to report that toilet is go for use.' Engineers recommend letting the system reach operating speed before use.
The $30m (£22.6m) Universal Waste Management System (UWMS) represents a major upgrade from Apollo-era facilities, which required astronauts to use a condom-like contraption for urine and bags taped to the buttocks for solid waste. These primitive setups were prone to leaks, with one mission transcript recording a crew member spotting 'a turd floating through the air'.
The new toilet includes a private cubicle with a door, handrails and foot tethers for stability. Urine is collected via a funnel and hose, while faeces are sucked into a bag, compressed and stored. The system is lined with insulation to dampen noise, requiring crew to wear ear protection inside.
On this 10-day mission, urine will be vented daily into space, while faecal waste will be stored for disposal on Earth. This contrasts with longer missions to the International Space Station, where almost all liquid waste is recycled into drinking water.
Reliable waste management is seen as critical for Nasa's goal of establishing a permanent presence in space. 'Having the ability to deal with waste is mission-critical,' said David Munns, professor at the City University of New York.
