The astronauts on the Artemis II mission encountered obstacles on their way to the Moon
The historic Artemis II mission, which sent humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, has already faced its first challenges. During the flight, the crew experienced a brief “radio silence” as well as everyday difficulties that cannot be resolved with a simple call to a repairman.
A NASA administrator reported that approximately 51 minutes after launch, communication with the astronauts was partially lost.
The crew was receiving messages, but Earth temporarily could not hear their responses. The cause is attributed to a software glitch in the communications module. NASA engineers continue to monitor the system to prevent a recurrence of the “blackout” during the lunar flyby.
A Broken Toilet in Zero Gravity
Despite the restoration of communication, the waste collection system in the Orion capsule malfunctioned. The multi-million-dollar space toilet required repairs, and the astronauts worked as “plumbers in space” under the guidance of ground engineers. By comparison, during missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, astronauts collected waste in plastic bags and jettisoned them into space. On Orion, the toilet is also the only place where one can be alone.
NASA equipped the crew with modern smartphones to capture important moments, photos, and videos for families and publications. Agency head Jared Isaacman emphasized that smartphones also allow for the accelerated certification of modern commercial equipment for spaceflight, modernizing outdated procedures.
Crew Meals and Beverages
Astronauts have time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, except during launch and return. The menu includes: tortillas, wheat tortillas, roasted beef brisket, macaroni and cheese, roasted broccoli, vegetable quiche, couscous with nuts, blueberry granola, and sausages. Two flavored drinks are available per day—coffee, tea, smoothies, chocolate, and fruit drinks. There are also sauces, honey, jam, and oils. Later, the crew will have access to full-scale food preparation systems.
During the 10-day expedition, the astronauts are to:
- fly around the far side of the Moon;
- test Orion’s life support and control systems in real deep-space conditions;
- prepare for a future human landing on the Moon’s surface.
Currently, all four crew members are in excellent health, and a critically important phase lies ahead: the closest possible approach to the far side of the Moon.
Artemis II’s Record-Breaking Achievements
- for the first time in 54 years, humans will leave Earth’s orbit and see the Moon;
- For the first time, astronauts will see the far side of the Moon in person;
- For the first time, a woman, an African American, and a non-U.S. citizen will be near the Moon;
- The crew will be 406,841 km from Earth—6,400 km farther than the record set by the 1970 mission.
On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed flight around the Moon in over half a century.
The mission will be a major milestone in the Artemis program, which is preparing humans to return to the lunar surface.
A previous launch attempt in February was postponed due to technical issues with valves in the SLS rocket’s fuel system. Now, following the successful completion of critical tests, the agency is confident: the rocket is ready for flight, and the crew is ready for the historic mission.
