'Frozen Surprises': Halfway To Moon, NASA's Artemis II Crew Faces Toilet Glitch | Netizens React

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 11:21 IST

NASA’s Artemis II crew has crossed the halfway mark to the Moon, pushing steadily into deep space on a mission set to carry humans farther than any since the Apollo missions.

Inside the Orion capsule, somewhere between Earth and the Moon, history was being made — and, unfortunately, so was an unpleasant smell.

NASA’s Artemis II crew has crossed the halfway mark to the Moon, pushing steadily into deep space on a mission set to carry humans farther than any since the Apollo missions.

As the Orion capsule prepares for its historic lunar fly-around, the journey has encountered an unexpectedly human complication — a minor malfunction in the onboard toilet system.

News18 Also Covered: How Artemis II Crew Spent Initial Hours After Lift Off On Historic Lunar Mission

The four-member crew — Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — is expected to reach the Moon on April 6, where they will capture rare images of its far side. This marks the first human moon in over 53 years, since the final journeys of the Apollo missions.

The Toilet Malfunctioning

As the crew encounters toilet malfunctioning, NASA has asked astronauts to use backup urine-collection bags until the system is fixed.

According to engineers, ice may be blocking the line, with astronauts complaining of an unpleasant smell from the bathroom area.

Officials say such issues are common in space and that the crew is trained to tackle them. “Space toilets and bathrooms are something everybody can really understand… it’s always a challenge," Debbie Korth, NASA’s Orion program deputy manager, said.

Internet Has Got No Chill 

The toilet malfunctioned, and netizens had a field day.

“Maybe space ice is just a misunderstood artist trying to make a splash in unexpected places", One user wrote.

Another user responded with a meme featuring U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. “Our FIX everything Man, Marco took care of it."

“Imagine being lightyears from earth and dealing with cosmic toilet drama", A third wrote.

A fourth sarcastically wrote, “Ice in space toilets is just the universe’s way of reminding us that even astronauts gotta deal with frozen surprises"

News world 'Frozen Surprises': Halfway To Moon, NASA's Artemis II Crew Faces Toilet Glitch | Netizens React

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