Artemis is in flight, but not all is going well as might be expected for this cutting-edge piece of American technology. A couple of problems surfaced; first, the toilet was busted, and apparently, nobody at NASA thought to send along a plumber. But, good old American know-how to the rescue, and the toilet is once more... toileting.
NASA’s moonbound astronauts have reason to celebrate, and not just because their launch went so well. Their toilet is now working.
The so-called lunar loo malfunctioned as soon as the Artemis II crew reached orbit Wednesday evening. Mission Control guided astronaut Christina Koch through some plumbing tricks and she finally got it going.
My friend and colleague Susie Moore reported on the toilet issue, including the resolution, in Thursday's Morning Minute:
Read More: Morning Minute: 'Houston, We Have a Problem...'
Breaking: NASA's Artemis II Rocket Blasts Off for Inspiring Moonshot
But I have some questions:
First, forget about a plumber; did nobody think to fetch along a plunger? That's usually the first thing one reaches for when one is having toilet issues. I know that's what I do. Also, how big is the septic tank on a spaceship, and how often do you have to have it pumped out? Or is a space loo like old-fashioned passenger train toilets, with, shall we say, direct egress?
Second, why did the only woman in the mission get stuck with unclogging the toilet? It would seem the gentlemanly thing to do for one of the dudes to step up. Or was she given the job because she has smaller hands? (Ew.)
Third, who was responsible for the clog? Maybe three courses of super-spicy Tex-Mex isn't the right thing to eat before going into space. Just saying.
NASA describes the space toilet thus:
Located in the floor with a door and curtain for privacy, the capsule’s lone toilet is based on an experimental commode that launched to the International Space Station in 2020. That station potty barely saw any use and has been out of order for years.
Known as the universal waste management system, the compact toilet uses air suction instead of water and gravity to remove waste, similar to earlier space toilets. It’s also designed to better accommodate female astronauts.
Air suction? That doesn't seem.. OK, some things it's best not to think too much about. But I do have a question about the International Space Station; if their loo has been out of order for years, what are they using?
Here's the part I don't get:
The bad news is that it’s so cold inside the Orion capsule — 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) — that the four astronauts are digging into suitcases for long-sleeved clothes. Mission Control is trying to warm things up.
65 degrees ( Fahrenheit, not commie/Euroweenie Celsius) in space - it's cold in space, remember - and these people are complaining? Obviously, there are no Alaskans along on this mission. That's t-shirt and shorts weather here in the Great Land. Also, it's not really that cold in space, so much as there's no air to conduct heat. As I understand it, an unshielded spacecraft in direct sunlight can get pretty warm pretty fast from the solar radiation.
But, by all means, let's keep the astronauts all cozy; NASA probably isn't worried about a few Alaskan bush rats rolling their eyes at this news.
Meanwhile, this historic moon mission goes on. Stay tuned.
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