The Artemis II crew addressed plumbing challenges faced during their historic lunar mission while responding to children’s questions on ‘CBS Mornings.’ The mission faced intermittent toilet issues from the outset. Initial problems with the fan system were fixed, but waste vent lines froze, preventing tanks from emptying.
To solve the issue, NASA flight controllers adjusted the orientation of the Orion capsule, allowing sunlight to thaw the vent and clear the blockage.
What did you do when the toilet broke? Did you just let it fly around?
Nine-year-old Bridget’s question amused both astronauts and the audience. Mission specialist Christina Koch explained that while engineers worked on solutions, the crew resorted to backup hygienic measures. ‘Everything on the spaceship usually has a backup system, so luckily the engineers planned for that and we used our backup system,’ Koch stated. ‘We got through it. It wasn’t as easy as our fancy, good toilet, but we made do.’
The solution involved ‘contingency collapsible urinals,’ or CCUs. These plastic containers collect urine for later disposal in space. Each crew member carried two, as previously reported by CBS News. Veteran astronaut Don Pettit commented on social media that CCUs replace around 25 pounds of diapers.
Earlier, pilot Victor Glover humorously referred to the challenges with the ‘constellation Urion,’ a nod to lingering frozen urine droplets in space post-venting.
Hygiene-related inquiries continued during the town hall. ‘CBS Mornings’ anchor Gayle King inquired about the crew’s cleanliness methods. ‘How do you stay clean up there?’ King asked. ‘Showers, birdbaths?’
‘I think showers in space are great,’ Koch responded. ‘Floating, water.’
Watch the full episode, ‘Things That Matter: A Town Hall with the Artemis Astronauts,’ for more insights.