Space trouble: Burning smell reported from $23 million toilet on Artemis II mission

Astronauts aboard Artemis II reported a burning smell emanating from the spacecraft's $23 million toilet system, days after it experienced an earlier malfunction. The odor, likened to an old electric heater, has not been definitively identified. Despite the unexplained smell, NASA has cleared the crew to continue using the waste management unit without major concern. A strange burning smell aboard the Artemis II spacecraft briefly raised concern after astronauts traced it to the area around the advanced onboard toilet system. The issue comes just days after the $23 million waste management unit experienced an earlier malfunction shortly after launch. While the crew has been cleared to continue using the system, the unexplained odor added another tense moment to the moon-bound mission. ALSO READ: Oracle Layoffs: Thousands being fired via email without warning -- here's what lead to the global restructuring Astronauts aboard Artemis II reported a mysterious burning smell coming from the spacecraft's advanced $23 million toilet system, adding a fresh complication to the moon-bound mission. The issue was flagged by astronaut Chrisna Koch, who had already repaired the toilet earlier in the mission after a separate malfunction, reported Space.com. Speaking to Mission Control on Saturday, Koch said, "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." According to the crew, the odor resembled the scent of an old electric heater that had not been used in a long time. Koch further explained, "It was never identified as the source, what it exactly was, but it was identified as an unknown smell." The unusual smell prompted Mission Control to review possible sources inside the hygiene area. ALSO READ: Captured in Gulf War: Former British pilot John Peters reveals what it's like to be shot down Yes, shortly after the April 1 launch, the urine hose of the Upper Waste Management System experienced a malfunction. That issue was addressed the following day by Koch, who successfully fixed the problem on Thursday, reported The New York Post. ALSO READ: 'Secret Motive' in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping? Sheriff drops chilling clue NASA flight controllers initially suspected that the smell may have been linked to orange insulation located on the toilet's hygiene bay door. Despite the lingering mystery, Mission Control informed the crew that there were no "major concerns" and cleared them to continue using the commode, reported Space.com. The smell remains unexplained, but NASA has indicated that the situation is stable and does not pose an immediate risk to the Artemis II mission. ALSO READ: Oracle layoffs spark fury: 30,000 jobs cut, families say cancer patients lost insurance What caused the smell? The exact source has not yet been identified. Is the toilet still working? Yes, the crew has been cleared to keep using it.