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Coverage dated November 4, 2021 to November 7, 2021

A broken toilet on SpaceX capsule means astronauts will return to Earth in diapers

Headline from Delaware Public Media, on the newest of 2 developments

NASA astronaut Megan McArthur called the situation "sub-optimal," but says the crew's four astronauts are "prepared to deal with it." They will return home after spending nearly 200 days in space.

Delaware Public Media's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. No toilet for returning SpaceX crew, who are stuck using diapers

    Headline from The Buffalo News ·

  2. Newest

    A broken toilet on SpaceX capsule means astronauts will return to Earth in diapers

    Headline from Delaware Public Media ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

86 articles, oldest first.

  1. KTVU San Francisco

    No toilet for returning SpaceX crew, stuck using diapers (opens KTVU San Francisco)

    Published

    KTVU San Francisco's feed description

    The astronauts who will depart the International Space Station as early as this weekend will be stuck using diapers on the way home because of their capsule’s broken toilet.

  2. Newsweek

    Broken toilet will force astronauts to wear diapers on their way home from space station (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Pools of urine were discovered in the capsule due to a loosened pipe. Despite the break, the capsule is otherwise safe to board and return in.

  3. The Guardian

    SpaceX toilet leak forces astronauts to use diapers on trip back to Earth (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    ‘Spaceflight is full of lots of little challenges’, says US member of crew which grew first chilis in space

  4. Voice of America

    Broken Toilet Leaves SpaceX Crew Stuck Using Diapers (opens Voice of America)

    Published

    Voice of America's feed description

    They leave the International Space Station on Sunday

  5. The Times of Israel

    Returning SpaceX crew stuck using diapers after toilet breaks (opens The Times of Israel)

    Published

    The Times of Israel's feed description

    NASA astronaut says situation is 'suboptimal' but manageable during 20 hour-period she and her crewmates will be in capsule

  6. The Buffalo News

    No toilet for returning SpaceX crew, who are stuck using diapers (opens The Buffalo News)

    Published

    The Buffalo News's feed description

    The astronauts who will depart the International Space Station on Sunday will be stuck using diapers on the way home because of their capsule's broken toilet.

  7. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Returning astronauts stuck with broken toilet (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

    Published

    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description

    The astronauts who will depart the International Space Station today will be stuck using diapers on the way home because of their capsule's broken toilet.

  8. Delaware Public Media

    A broken toilet on SpaceX capsule means astronauts will return to Earth in diapers (opens Delaware Public Media)

    Published

    Delaware Public Media's feed description

    NASA astronaut Megan McArthur called the situation "sub-optimal," but says the crew's four astronauts are "prepared to deal with it." They will return home after spending nearly 200 days in space.

  9. Insider

    SpaceX and NASA delayed 4 astronauts returning from ISS, but the rescheduled flight is 12 hours quicker — meaning less time wearing diapers designed to cope with a leaky toilet (opens Insider)

    Published

    Insider's feed description

    The SpaceX astronauts on the Crew-2 mission have to wear "undergarments" because of a toilet leak on the Crew Dragon craft.

  10. Science Alert

    Poor ISS Astronauts Will Return Home in Diapers as SpaceX's Toilet Keeps Leaking Pee (opens Science Alert)

    Published

    Science Alert's feed description

    After almost 200 days in space, four astronauts are returning to Earth this week from the International Space Station (ISS). The only problem? The eight-or-so-hour mission will be toilet-less after the SpaceX Dragon capsule toilet was found to leak

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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