On Sunday, NASA’s top official addressed concerns regarding the $23 million toilet on the Artemis II mission, emphasizing that the astronauts appreciate having any alternative, despite its shortcomings.
“In the history of human spaceflight, having a functional toilet is almost seen as a bonus,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman commented during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He was responding to criticism over the performance of the suction-based titanium toilet aboard the Orion spacecraft.
“We have numerous contingencies in place,” Isaacman explained. “There are multiple vent lines, for example, specifically for urine management.”
“Even when the primary system encounters issues, like freezing, the backup systems are operational. Rest assured, the astronauts are managing well and were thoroughly prepared for this scenario,” he added.
Isaacman acknowledged that while NASA achieves remarkable feats in space, perfecting this particular technology remains a work in progress.
The advanced toilet system employs suction to direct solid waste into a canister for return to Earth, while liquid waste is expelled into space. Previously, astronauts relied on a suction system to collect waste in plastic bags.
Shortly after the Orion’s launch, its four astronauts reported that the eight-figure loo was jammed because of a problem with its pump.
The astronauts could use it for No. 2 but not No. 1 because the urine line became frozen.
Then Saturday, they reported a mystery burning smell while using the lunar loo. The smell appeared to be coming from orange insulation on the toilet’s hygiene bay door.
The toilet was eventually cleared for use again.
Developing the Upper Waste Management System took six years and is the second most expensive space toilet developed. The 1992 Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Waste Collection System cost about $30 million, or just shy of $70 million in 2026 in inflation-adjusted dollars.
There are at least 10 other sophisticated space toilets that have been in use, including four on the International Space Station.
Isaacman, a billionaire who founded Draken International, which has the world’s largest private air force, was on the first all-civilian spacecraft flight in September 2021.
He became the first private citizen to do a spacewalk in 2024.
The NASA boss, who took the reins of the agency in December, meanwhile revealed he believes aliens exist.
“I have been to space twice. I didn’t encounter any aliens up there yet,” he said. “I have not seen anything to suggest that we have been visited by any intelligent life forms out there.
“But when you think about it, we got 2 trillion galaxies out there. Who knows how many star systems within each of it? I would say the odds that we will find something at some point to suggest that we are not alone are pretty high.
“Our job here is to go out and try and unlock the secrets of the universe,” the NASA chief said.
“And one of those questions is, ‘Are we alone?’ So I would say that is inherent in every one of our scientific endeavors, our exploration endeavors.”
