Microsoft's buggy apps reach deep space — "I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those is working," says Artemis II commander

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Commander Reid Wiseman reported a frustratingly familiar software glitch on his Surface Pro during the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.

The Artemis II crewed lunar mission lifts off from Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket April 1 on a long-anticipated journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With an intense roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white rocket carried three Americans and one Canadian away from Florida's Kennedy Space Center at approximately 6:35 pm local time, according to an AFP journalist onsite. "We're going to the Moon!" yelled a spectator. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images | Jim Watson)

They say in space no one can hear you scream. Apparently, they can't read your emails either — at least if you use Outlook.

NASA and the crew of the Artemis II are making history this month. The crewed rocket took off Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and is headed to orbit the Moon.

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One hiccup came as a bit of a surprise, but not to those who rely on Outlook for work.

Wiseman sent a message to mission control on Thursday explaining issues with Microsoft Outlook.

"I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those is working," said the commander.

Wiseman's tablet is a Microsoft Surface Pro. Engadget looked through the Artemis II livestream but did not hear of a resolution to Wiseman's Outlook issue.

I checked DownDetector to see if there was an Outlook outage, but I could not find a version of DownDetector that covers space. The site supports dozens of countries, but the drop down menu lacks an option for Earth-to-Lunar orbit.

Microsoft has two versions of Outlook, the terrible "new" Outlook that's basically a web wrapper and Outlook "Classic." Neither worked for Wiseman.

NASA has several livestreams of the mission from different perspectives, giving viewers unique access to a mission of this kind.

If all goes to plan, we can all watch Artemis II orbit the Moon on Monday, April 6.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.

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