Outlook glitch in orbit: Artemis II crew calls Earth for tech support mid-mission

In a reminder that even the most advanced space missions are not immune to everyday tech hiccups, astronauts aboard Artemis II briefly found themselves unable to send emails using Microsoft Outlook—prompting an unusual call for tech support from Earth.

The mission, launched on April 1, 2026 by NASA, marks humanity’s first crewed journey toward the Moon in over five decades. With billions invested and a four-member crew onboard, the 10-day mission began smoothly. But within hours of entering Earth’s orbit, a surprisingly mundane issue emerged.

Commander Reid Wiseman reported that Outlook was not functioning on his personal computing device—a Microsoft Surface Pro—used aboard the spacecraft. “I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working,” Wiseman told mission control, requesting remote assistance to troubleshoot the issue.

Engineers at NASA’s Houston control centre promptly intervened, remotely accessing the system to resolve the glitch. While the application was restored, it continued to display an “offline” status—something mission control indicated was expected under the circumstances.

The incident quickly sparked amusement online, with users drawing parallels to everyday workplace frustrations. Social media platforms were flooded with memes, including references to the Space Force, where a fictional space mission is derailed by a routine software update. One user quipped that “Microsoft products are so bad they successfully recreated this exact scene,” while another joked that “pigeons in spacesuits would be more reliable.”

Beyond the email glitch, the mission has navigated other technical challenges. According to NASA spokesperson Gary Jordan, a toilet fan aboard the spacecraft jammed shortly after launch, requiring intervention from ground teams. Backup waste management systems ensured continuity during the repair.

Even before liftoff, Artemis II had faced a series of engineering hurdles, including hydrogen and helium leaks and concerns over a faulty heat shield. Despite this, the mission achieved a key milestone on April 3, successfully executing a translunar injection burn—propelling the Orion spacecraft onto a direct trajectory toward the Moon.

The crew—Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—is undertaking a critical rehearsal for future lunar landings, as NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon under its Artemis programme.

While the stakes of the mission remain historic, the Outlook episode served as a light-hearted reminder: even in space, some problems feel very much like Earth.