'I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one is working': Artemis II astronauts have the most relatable complaint

Ground control to Major Redmond

02 Apr 2026, 15:38 by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/lance-ulanoff · TechRadar

News By Lance Ulanoff published 2 April 2026

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist onboard launches on the Artemis II mission (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)

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Artemis II crew reports a Microsoft software glitch
One astronaut to Mission Control that neither of their Outlooks was working
There's no evidence the issue impacted the mission in any meaningful way

Artemis II Mission Control, we have a problem — and it's one most every Microsoft customer can relate to. Just hours after Artemis II's spectacular launch, kicking off NASA's first moon mission in more than 50 years, the astronauts reported a Microsoft 365 tech glitch.

As the four crew members flew at 4,275mph and more than 30,000 miles from Earth, they remained in almost constant contact with NASA Mission Control. During one conversation, a mission astronaut offered this report: "I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one is working."

First, you can be forgiven if you're surprised that the Orion spacecraft (which was carried to space by the Artemis II mission) uses Microsoft 365 software. However, NASA has been standardized on Microsoft's suite of software and services for years, using the platform across productivity, collaboration, and, yes, communication. The agency even uses Copilot, though it's not clear if the AI has had any part in this mission.

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Things are happening in a most peculiar way

Back to the non-life-threatening situation on the spacecraft…

The astronaut asks if NASA wants to "remote in and check Optimus and those two Outlooks, that would be awesome."

Mission Control clocks the issue and responds, "We will join in on your PCD and let you know when we're done."

The "Optimus" reference, by the way, was referring to a separate issue. The astronaut brought up the two Outlooks as another tech glitch to check while they're in there.

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