The Artemis II crew described how they handled a toilet malfunction during their lunar flyby while answering questions on "CBS Mornings." A vent line iced over after initial fan problems, preventing the waste tank from emptying; NASA reoriented the Orion capsule to warm the vent and reduce the clog. Astronauts used contingency collapsible urinals (CCUs) — two per crewmember — as the planned backup while engineers worked the problem. The crew kept the conversation light with jokes and straightforward answers about hygiene in space.
Artemis II Astronauts on Toilet Malfunction: "We Made Do" — How Crew Stayed Hygienic During Lunar Flyby
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. / Credit: NASA
The Artemis II crew spoke candidly about a plumbing malfunction aboard the Orion spacecraft during their historic lunar flyby, answering questions from children on "CBS Mornings." While early fan problems were fixed, a vent line that ejects waste into space iced over and prevented the waste tank from emptying. NASA flight controllers temporarily reoriented the spacecraft so sunlight could warm the vent and help clear the blockage.
How the Crew Managed the Problem
During a Friday town hall, 9-year-old Bridget asked, "What did you do when the toilet broke? Did you just let it fly around?" The question drew laughter from the crew and audience.
"Everything on the spaceship usually has a backup system, so luckily the engineers planned for that and we used our backup system," Mission Specialist Christina Koch said. "We got through it. It wasn't as easy as our fancy, good toilet, but we made do."
That backup was the contingency collapsible urinal (CCU): a simple plastic collection system each astronaut carries (CBS News reported two per crew member). The CCUs let crew members collect urine and vent it later into space once controllers and engineers had a solution. Veteran astronaut Don Pettit noted on X that the CCUs are roughly equivalent to replacing about 25 pounds of diapers, offering a relatable sense of the backup system's capacity.
Keeping Things Light — And Clean
The crew kept the tone light while describing the challenge. Pilot Victor Glover joked about the "constellation Urion," a reference to frozen urine droplets that can linger briefly after venting. When "CBS Mornings" anchor Gayle King asked how astronauts stay clean in space — "Showers, birdbaths?" — Koch playfully replied, "I think showers in space are great. Floating, water."
What matters most: engineers and flight controllers worked closely with the crew, the mission had planned backups, and the team resolved the issue without jeopardizing the mission. The exchange offered a human, approachable glimpse into how crews handle unexpected — and unglamorous — problems in space.
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