National

Toilet, communications issues for first manned lunar mission in 50 years

Apr 03, 2026

Cape Canaveral [US], April 3: Astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission, the first manned lunar expedition in 50 years, were faced with a number of technical difficulties following lift-off on Wednesday, including a malfunctioning toilet.
The four-person crew aboard the Orion capsule reported a flashing warning light shortly after launch, prior to a planned engine manoeuvre, according to NASA.
"We had a controller issue with the toilet," said NASA deputy administrator Amit Kshatriya during a press conference.
The crew, "working closely with mission control in Houston," have since been able to resolve the issue, NASA said in a statement.Communications issue Shortly after the launch, communication between the four astronauts on board the Orion capsule and the control centre on Earth was temporarily lost. "Comms with the crew have been restored. We're actively working the issue and we'll keep you informed," NASA said. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune