Go/No-Go: NASA’s Space Toilet Explained

The space toilet on the Orion spacecraft, called the Universal Waste Management System, is experiencing issues with no flow. Urine is typically stored and then vented overboard daily, but there's a complex engineering problem. Exposing liquid to vacuum creates a chaotic environment, and while theory exists for pure water, wastewater introduces unknown complex phenomena affecting the vent line. This issue is a learning opportunity for the shorter mission, allowing for necessary changes to the spacecraft before Artemis III. Despite the problem, the toilet is considered the most important piece of equipment onboard.