- Four Artemis II astronauts faced communication issues shortly after Earth orbit insertion
- NASA lost data from crew and Orion but astronauts could hear Mission Control
- Microsoft Outlook on spacecraft tablets failed, hindering email and manual access
The four astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II mission, launched Wednesday for a 10-day journey around the moon, encountered several technical issues on their first day in orbit. Despite a historic liftoff, the mission has already tested both the crew and ground teams, reported NYPost.
Immediately after entering Earth's orbit, NASA's Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen experienced a brief interruption in communication with Mission Control.
During this period, NASA was unable to receive data from either the crew or the Orion spacecraft, although the astronauts could still hear the voices of ground controllers.
NASA stated that the issue was resolved quickly and that its cause is currently under investigation, reported NBC News.
Initial operations were also impacted by a problem with the spacecraft's Microsoft Outlook application.
Approximately seven hours after launch, Commander Reid Wiseman informed Mission Control in Houston that both Outlook accounts on board the spacecraft were non-functional.
These tablets are used by the astronauts for routine activities such as sending emails and accessing mission manuals.
Another technical issue involved the Orion capsule's Universal Waste Management System, designed to expel urine and store solid waste until the crew returns.
NASA spokesperson Gary Jordan reported that the toilet's fan had jammed and that the ground team was providing instructions to resolve the issue. The toilet remains partially functional for solid waste collection, while urine is being vented into space through a tube.
