The malfunctioning toilet on board the Artemis II, the second most expensive commode ever built, cost American taxpayers $23 million.
NASA scientists took six years to create two of the 3D-printed titanium thrones, officially named the Upper Waste Management System.
The first model, which cost $11.5 million, was installed on the International Space Station in 2020.
NASA scientists hard at work designing the advanced $23 million commode that is currently on board Artemis II. James Blair/NASA The lavish loo improved upon less hygienic designs of previous spaceships, replacing plastic bags with a suction system that keeps waste stored safely and cleanly.
Despite its pricetag, the urine hose of the Upper Waste Management System malfunctioned after take-off on Tuesday. The problem was quickly addressed by the astronauts on board.
The moon-destined crapper falls just a little short of being the most expensive toilet system ever constructed.
The layout of the Artemis II bathroom which has a level of privacy not known to previous generations of space travelers. Canadian Space Agency The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Waste Collection System, which debuted in 1992, cost roughly $30 million to create and install, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Adjusted for inflation, that would be just under $70 million in 2026.
There are currently 10 advanced toilets in outer space with Artemis II’s very portable potty joining four on the International Space Station, two on China’s Taingong space station, and one each on Soyuz, Crew Dragon, and Shenzhou crafts, Popular Science reported.
