A blinking fault light on Nasa\u2019s Orion spacecraft signalled an unwelcome setback at the start of the historic Artemis II mission: the toilet was out of order.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for the four astronauts on board for the 10-day mission<\/a>, the issue was quickly resolved, with mission control confirming: \u201cHappy to report that toilet is go for use. We do recommend letting the system get to operating speed before donating fluid, and then letting it run a little bit after donation.\u201d<\/p>\n And despite the shaky start, the spacecraft\u2019s $30m (\u00a322.6m) Universal Waste Management System (UWMS)<\/a> has been hailed as a leap forward in deep space toilet technology. The system was years in development and designed to improve on longstanding complaints from astronauts about onboard facilities.<\/p>\n On the Apollo missions, astronauts were required to pee into a condom-like contraption placed under the spacesuit (all Apollo crew being male). Solid waste was collected into a bag taped to the astronaut\u2019s buttocks. The setup was prone to leaks, with one mission transcript recording an alarmed crew member noticing \u201ca turd floating through the air<\/a>\u201d. And while a Nasa report<\/a> concluded that the primitive setup had broadly met its objectives from a purely engineering standpoint, it \u201cmust be given poor marks\u201d for crew satisfaction.<\/p>\n The upgrade to the UWMS has seen Orion fitted with a private toilet cubicle \u2013 a first for a space shuttle \u2013 accessed through a door on the floor next to the hatch that astronauts use to enter the spacecraft. Handrails and foot tethers will allow the crew to remain secure while visiting the bathroom.<\/p>\n Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch, right, during the activation of the Orion spacecraft\u2019s toilet system before launch. Photograph: James Blair\/Nasa<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pretty fortunate as a crew to get a toilet with a door on this tiny spacecraft,\u201d said Jeremy Hansen, a mission specialist on Artemis II from the Canadian Space Agency, in a video<\/a> ahead of launch. \u201cThe one place during the mission where we can go and actually feel like we\u2019re alone for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n The toilet has a funnel attached to a hose for urine and is fitted with a small seat. Since everything floats in space, the faeces are sucked down into a bag at the base of the toilet bowl, which is then squished down into a canister. The suction is so noisy that the cubical is lined with insulation and the crew must wear ear protection<\/a> while inside.<\/p>\n