The Artemis II plan is to go 4000 miles beyond the Moon (the Apollo astronauts flew only 70 miles beyond the Moon), which will take them to the furthest distance in space ever for humans.
The Guardian reports that “Nasa has reported satisfaction with progress toward the lunar fly-round since the team’s launch on Wednesday, with the three Americans and one Canadian on course to break the record for maximum range from Earth just as a total solar eclipse awaits.”
The one problem they have faced is with the toilets, which will remind earthlings of the crisis on the most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, which has had severe problems with its toilet system. Until the toilet is fixed, mission control has instructed the astronauts to continue using backup urine collection bags. The commode malfunctioned after Wednesday’s liftoff and has only been working sporadically since then. Engineers suspect ice may be blocking the line that is preventing urine from completely flushing overboard. ("The toilet is still open for No 2 business,” as The Guardian puts it.)
