Why Artemis II Crew Members Need Hearing Protection While Pooping

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The Artemis II crew has a unique bathroom ritual in space. 

During their 10-day trip to the moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, the astronauts will need to follow a specific process when using the restroom.

In a video posted to Instagram on April 1st, astronaut Christina Koch explained to National Geographic that the orange foam covering the small bathroom walls is actually insulation. She shared they used it to help dampen the sound of the toilet.

It’s incredibly noisy, so the astronauts have to be extra careful when using the toilet. This toilet uses suction to handle waste in space, where there’s no gravity.

She reminded me that hearing protection is required in this area. We’re figuring out how to manage that, just like we coordinate everything else around here.

As for what it’s like once they glide themselves to the restroom?

Christina explained that once inside, it’s important to have something to hold onto because you float around easily. She also advised staying seated to keep yourself grounded.

Now that they’ve used the restroom, the astronauts – who are on the first mission to the moon in over 50 years – also need to deal with waste disposal.

According to Paul Boehm, who manages life support and crew systems on the capsule, the spacecraft will collect urine in a tank, store it temporarily, and then release it into space. He shared this information with CBS News before the launch.

He explained that waste is collected in a container, then compressed and sealed with a filtered lid to control odor. Essentially, they’ll be taking all of that back with them.

Paul acknowledged the work wasn’t particularly exciting, but highlighted that the team – including Christina, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen – all willingly share the responsibilities.

“They all take care of it because they have to,” he explained. “You’re all in it together.”

There are also protocols in place for any out-of-this-world toilet malfunctions. 

We’ve already thought through how to handle that situation. We designed a special collection bag for the crew to use for urination. It drains the urine away from them, and then we safely dispose of the contents overboard.

It works the same way with solid waste,” he explained. “You simply put it in the bag, compress it, and then dispose of it in the trash.

For more interesting confessions, keep reading…

In June 2024, athlete Jason Kelce jokingly responded to a fan’s comment on social media. The fan had observed that Kelce appeared to not wash his legs or feet, to which Kelce tweeted, “What kind of weirdo washes their feet…?”

The retired Philadelphia Eagles player later doubled down on his comments.

Let me tell you, as someone who appreciates a little self-care, I was cracking up listening to a recent podcast episode! My brother and I were chatting, and the topic of foot-washing came up. I jokingly said, ‘Seriously, who washes someone else’s feet?’ But then I clarified – if I did see some actual dirt, I’d definitely scrub it off! It’s just… a weird thing to offer, you know?

More than ten years after actor Kristen Stewart shared a story about witnessing a clown’s death in a car accident at the circus when he was a child, he confessed that the story was fabricated.

Robert remembered telling The New York Times Style Magazine in December 2024 that he reacted with complete surprise, saying, “What on earth? Are you possessed?”

As for what he said during the 2011 Today interview promoting his film Water for Elephants?

He explained that one of the clowns had died in an accident. Their small car, a prop used in the show, unexpectedly exploded, causing panic and frightening everyone present.

Grandma knows best.

In an October 2022 episode of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian shared a personal story about how her grandmother, Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell, had a surprising impact on a private moment with her then-boyfriend, Pete Davidson.

Kim Kardashian told MJ, Kris Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian that she and Pete Davidson were at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend. They were chatting by the fireplace for hours, and she remembered her grandmother telling her that having sex in front of a fireplace is a way to truly enjoy life. So, they decided to do it as a tribute to Kris.

Grandma’s reaction? A nod of approval.

Kim found it unsettling to think about her grandmother before being intimate, and MJ responded by saying she understood, but she used to be younger too.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have a very close family with their two children, 8-year-old Wyatt and 6-year-old Dimitri, and their love for each other is incredibly strong.

So much so, that the Black Swan actress revealed they keep an open-door policy at home.

She told TopMob News in September 2022 that this also extends to the bathroom. She explained that her family has simply accepted all normal bodily functions as a natural part of life, including for her children.

Honestly, it was a bit much! My family just kept coming over and practically begging to be let in. Eventually, I just gave up and thought, ‘You know what? Fine, just come in!’ I figured it was easier to just keep the door open than to keep explaining things.

Pre-kids, she might not have imagined she’d flush that particular boundary away.

She said she never imagined she’d become comfortable enough to use the restroom with the door open.

Jennifer Garner admitted to a slightly embarrassing on-set mishap while filming the 2007 movie The Kingdom. She accidentally bit her own tongue during a fight scene – a bit more than she intended!

Jennifer described a scene with Sala Baker where the director, Pete Berg, instructed Baker to attempt to harm her. She explained that they hadn’t rehearsed much, and Berg told her to focus on protecting herself however she could.

She continued, explaining that they both jumped into action, and she ended up climbing onto his back. She even bit his ear – they have a photo to prove it, showing a piece missing! They weren’t messing around.

 

Ghouls just want to have fun.

During an October 2022 episode of The View, while discussing a woman who claimed her home was haunted by “sexual ghosts,” Sara Haines posed a surprising question to her fellow panelists: Could someone actually get pregnant from a sexual encounter with a ghost?

Luckily, Joy Behar, her co-host, chimed in with a humorous response: “I’ve had encounters with ghosts and never gotten pregnant.”

“I’m going to leave that statement as is,” Whoopi Goldberg responded. “I’m not sure everyone heard what Joy said, but I’m choosing not to comment further on it.”

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb are very close friends, but Hoda recently learned something surprising about her co-host on Today. While preparing for an episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna, Hoda found out that Jenna never wears underwear.

Hoda Kotb recounted a funny moment from November 2022 on Today with Hoda and Jenna. She explained that they both needed to quickly change outfits and had to return to the dressing room. While there, Hoda realized Jenna Bush Hager doesn’t wear underwear.

Jenna’s rationale? Well, no underwear might just be more convenient to her.

She explained that the style creates a more flattering shape and also makes packing easier, adding that there are many other benefits as well.

Looks like someone hasn’t been keeping up.

Britney Spears related to a popular line from Keke Palmer – “He could be walking down the street, I wouldn’t know a thing” – and confessed she wasn’t familiar with Pete Davidson or Scott Disick.

Britney shared a funny video from March featuring Pete Davidson—who was dating Kim Kardashian at the time—and Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick, having a night out. She said the video had her laughing a lot.

Britney apologized for sharing the video, explaining she didn’t know who was in it, but it had made her laugh a lot!

Before Chris Evans became famous as Captain America and was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2022, Jana Kramer dated him and thought he was a charming and handsome guy.

The singer shared on her podcast, Whine Down with Jana Kramer, that this happened over ten years ago. While she doesn’t remember exactly how many times they went out, she clearly remembers their final meeting.

I remember Jana telling me that Chris invited her over when he had some friends visiting from Boston. She was around 26 at the time, and it seemed like a casual get-together.

Jana recalled that the last thing she remembered was her boyfriend going to the bathroom right after she’d eaten asparagus, which gives urine a noticeable smell. They didn’t end up intimate that night; he stayed up late with friends, and the next morning she left his house feeling embarrassed – what she jokingly called the ‘asparagus walk of shame’.

She added, “I never heard from him again.”

Not all of these confessions are amusing.

In December, television writer Elisabeth Finch confessed that she had fabricated a story about having a rare bone cancer. She had originally shared this false diagnosis in an article with ELLE eight years prior, and it even became the basis for a plotline on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy.

Elisabeth recently shared with The Ankler newsletter that a lie she told at age 34 was the biggest regret of her life. She explained that the lie grew over time, becoming a heavy burden she carried for years. She also clarified that she has never been diagnosed with cancer.

Finch, who stepped down from his role on the ABC medical show after being temporarily suspended, admitted, “I made a mistake. It was unacceptable and completely wrong – there’s no excuse for it.”

Beauty is pain, but Kim Kardashian might be able to stomach it.

The reality star told The New York Times she’d consider almost any procedure to look younger, joking that she was open to trying everything.

Honestly, I’m her biggest fan, and she said something that really stuck with me. Back in June, she joked that if someone told her she’d have to eat… well, let’s just say something really unpleasant… every day, just to look younger, she’d seriously consider it. She wasn’t kidding when she said she ‘just might’ do it! That’s how dedicated she is to staying youthful, and I admire that so much.

In a July 2022 interview with Allure magazine, Kim explained she was mostly joking when she made the comment, but admitted it wasn’t a completely awful idea.

Kim admitted, after some thought, that she’d likely do almost anything for youth, even something disgusting. She said she’d probably eat something awful like, well, poop, if someone promised it would make her look younger, even if it meant eating it every day.

She wasn’t sure how much she could eat. “Perhaps just a small bite,” she said. “I definitely couldn’t manage a full bowl.”

Jelly Roll could’ve used some saving from himself.

During an April 2025 interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the singer of “Save Me” shared a particularly embarrassing story, and didn’t hesitate to tell all the details.

“I pooped myself one time,” he admitted. “I did, I’m sorry.”

To be honest, Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord) didn’t intend to cause such serious harm.

Honestly, looking back, I truly believed everything would be fine. It’s tough to admit, but I misread the room completely. One minute the energy was amazing, the next…it just vanished. I feel terrible about it, and I’m really sorry for letting everyone down. It was a stark reminder that you can lose a connection with an audience in an instant.

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2026-04-02 21:48