A technical problem arose for astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission, who found themselves unable to send emails using Microsoft Outlook, prompting remote assistance from teams based on Earth.
The problem arose early in the mission, as the Orion spacecraft embarked on its 10-day mission circling the Moon, which is NASA’s first crewed mission to fly by the Moon in more than 50 years. Mission Commander Reid Wiseman alerted mission control in Houston, Texas, to the problem with Outlook not working on board.
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“I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working,” Wiseman said over communication, requesting ground teams to remotely access the system.
Here's the audio exchange 😅 pic.twitter.com/1961JGnqvt
— Latest in space (@latestinspace) April 2, 2026
Issue fixed from Earth
According to a report by The Verge, NASA engineers were able to resolve the issue by accessing the system of the spacecraft. Subsequently, it was confirmed by mission control that the issue of Outlook was resolved. However, it still remained offline, which was a normal occurrence.
The issue did not take long to gain traction on social media, where many people drew comparisons between the issue and their frustrations in the workplace.
Another hiccup: toilet system failure
The issue of email is an extension of another challenge facing the spacecraft. According to reports by NASA, a fan in the toilet of the spacecraft jammed, making it impossible for the astronauts to use it.
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According to a spokesperson of NASA, Gary Jordan, instructions are being developed to help the astronauts fix the issue. Despite the challenges facing the spacecraft, the four-person crew, consisting of all Americans except for a Canadian, continues with its mission around the moon.
Although the challenges facing the spacecraft are minor, they are a reminder of how complex it can be to use technology in space. Artemis II is a landmark mission by NASA as it continues to explore space.
