Artemis II mission: Space trouble: Burning smell reported from $23 million toilet on Artemis II mission

A strange burning smell on the Artemis II spacecraft briefly caused concern after astronauts traced it to the area around the advanced toilet system. The problem emerged just days after the $23 million waste management unit suffered an earlier malfunction shortly after launch.

While the crew was allowed to continue using the system, the unexplained odor added another tense moment to the moon mission.

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What did the astronauts smell?

Astronauts aboard Artemis II reported that a mysterious burning smell coming from the spacecraft’s $23 million advanced toilet system added a new complication to the mission to the moon.

The issue was flagged by astronaut Chrisna Koch, who repaired the toilet after a separate malfunction at the beginning of the mission, Space.com reported.
“As for the smell, I wanted to make sure you all followed the EGS notes regarding the burnt heater smell coming from the restroom a few times,” Koch told Mission Control on Saturday. According to the crew, the smell resembled that of an old electric heater that had not been used for a long time.

Koch further explained: “What exactly it was was never identified as the source, but was described as an unknown odor.”

The unusual odor caused Mission Control to investigate possible sources within the hygiene area.

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Was the toilet already broken?

Yes, shortly after the April 1 launch, the Upper Waste Management System urine tube malfunctioned.

This issue was addressed the next day by Koch, who successfully resolved it on Thursday, The New York Post reported.

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What has NASA said so far?

NASA flight controllers initially suspected that the odor might be linked to the orange insulation on the toilet’s hygiene compartment door.

Despite the ongoing mystery, Mission Control informed the crew that there were “no significant concerns” and allowed them to continue using the restroom, Space.com reported.

The smell has not yet been explained, but NASA has stated that the situation is stable and does not pose an immediate risk to the Artemis II mission.

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FAQ

What caused the smell?
The exact source has not yet been determined.

Is the toilet still working?
Yes, the crew has been cleared to continue using it.