The Artemis II plan is to go 4,000 miles beyond the Moon (the Apollo astronauts flew only 70 miles beyond the Moon), which will take them to the farthest distance in space ever for humans.
The Guardian reports: “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. 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.)
