Astronauts on board Artemis II reported a mysterious burning smell coming from the $23 million advanced toilet system which previously malfunctioned after takeoff.


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“Regarding the smell, I just wanted to make sure you all were tracking the EGS notes of the kind of burning heater smell that was coming from toilet several times,” astronaut Chrisna Koch, who fixed the toilet on Thursday, radioed to mission control on Saturday, Space.com reported.

NASA’s Artemis II crew is now half way to the moon. Best Image / BACKGRID
Astronauts on board Artemis II reported a mysterious burning smell coming from the $23 million advanced toilet system which previously malfunctioned after takeoff. Canadian Space Agency

“It was never identified as the source, what it exactly was, but it was identified as an unknown smell,” Koch said.

The four moon-bound passengers reported the smell was similar to the scent of an old electric heater that hasn’t been used in a while, the report stated.


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The Artemis II’s 10-day journey. Donald Pearsall / NY Post Design/ NASA
The Orion capsule being used in the Artemis II mission. Donald Pearsall / NY Post Design / ESA

NASA flight controllers initially suspected the mystery burning smell was coming from orange insulation on the toilet’s hygiene bay door.

The crew has clearance to continue use of the commode and Mission Control said there were no “major concerns” regarding the reported aroma, Space.com reported.

Shortly after launch on April 1, the urine hose of the so-called Upper Waste Management System experienced a malfunction, but that was quickly addressed by Koch the following day.

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