Trending Now - Artemis II Crew Faces Toilet Troubles on Lunar Mission

WHO:

ABC News - The Artemis II astronauts include Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch.

ABC News - Jeremy Hansen is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

ABC News - Debbie Korth is NASA’s Orion program deputy manager.

ABC News - John Honeycutt is the chair of the mission management team.

ABC News - Lisa Campbell is the President of the Canadian Space Agency.

WHAT:

ABC News - The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to the moon.

ABC News - The mission is set to reach its destination on April 10th, 2026.

ABC News - The Artemis II mission is the first moon-bound crew in more than 53 years.

ABC News - The mission aims to set a distance record for humans, traveling more than 252,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth.

ABC News - The toilet on the Orion capsule has malfunctioned, requiring the use of backup urine collection bags.

ABC News - The toilet is still operational for solid waste.

WHERE:

ABC News - The mission is based in Houston, Texas, and the astronauts are currently in the Orion capsule en route to the moon.

WHEN:

ABC News - The Artemis II mission began on April 6th, 2026, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on April 10th, 2026.

ABC News - The last crewed lunar mission was Apollo 17 in 1972.

WHY:

ABC News - The mission is part of NASA's plans for a sustainable moon base, with a targeted landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole in 2028.

HOW:

ABC News - Engineers suspect ice may be blocking the toilet line, preventing urine from flushing completely.

ABC News - The astronauts have been instructed by Mission Control to manage the toilet situation using backup systems.

(UPDATED April 6, 2026 09:19 UTC)

The Artemis II astronauts, including Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch, are currently more than halfway to the moon and are set to reach their destinatiApril 10th. This mission marks the first crewed lunar journey in over 53 years and aims to set a distance record, traveling more than 252,000 miles from Earth, although a malfunctioning toilet on the Orion capsule has required the use of backup urine collection bags. Based in Houston, Texas, the mission is part of NASA's plans for a sustainable moon base, with a targeted landing by two astronauts near the lunar south pole planned for 2028.