Life Aboard the Orion Spacecraft: Preparing for Artemis II

The upcoming Artemis II mission from NASA promises to be a monumental event in human space exploration, as four astronauts prepare to venture around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. These astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will be the first to set their eyes on our celestial neighbor at a relatively close distance in over half a century.

Orion will serve as their home during this awe-inspiring 685,000-mile, nearly 10-day journey. While the spacecraft explores the mysteries of space, its crew module will provide all the essentials to keep the astronauts alive, including potable water, and nitrogen and oxygen for breathing.

Artemis II marks the first time astronauts will embark on a mission aboard Orion, and this historic endeavor comes with multiple objectives to evaluate the spacecraft’s life support systems operating in the challenging environment of space. The valuable feedback provided by the crew during this mission will be instrumental for future Artemis missions to the Moon.

Orion’s cabin boasts a habitable volume of 330 cubic feet, offering the crew an environment with as much living space as two minivans. To maximize their comfort during the flight, NASA’s astronauts will stow the seats of Koch and Hansen until the day of their return, affording them greater freedom of movement. The seats of Wiseman and Glover, who serve as commander and pilot respectively, will remain accessible.

The spacecraft’s food scientists at the Space Food Systems Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston are working closely with the crew to pre-select their meals well in advance of their departure from Earth. While the astronauts won’t have the same day-to-day culinary choices as those aboard the International Space Station, they will enjoy a set menu tailored to their personal preferences and nutritional requirements. Orion is equipped with a water dispenser and food warmer for rehydrating and heating meals, and the crew will have designated meal times in their schedule to ensure they are well-nourished.

Maintaining physical health in the absence of gravity is crucial, and to that end, each astronaut will dedicate 30 minutes daily to exercise. Orion is equipped with a flywheel, a compact device installed below the side hatch, which will serve as a step for the crew when entering and exiting the spacecraft. This device allows them to perform aerobic exercises like rowing and resistance workouts such as squats and deadlifts. It functions much like a yo-yo, offering resistance proportional to the effort applied, with a maximum load of 400 pounds. In contrast, the International Space Station’s exercise equipment, which is effective but heavy, collectively weighs more than 4,000 pounds and occupies a substantial 850 cubic feet of space. The flywheel, designed for Orion, is far more compact, weighing around 30 pounds and being only slightly larger than a carry-on suitcase.

Orion is also equipped with a hygiene bay, which includes doors for privacy, a toilet, and space for personal hygiene kits brought by the crew. Although showering in space is not feasible, astronauts rely on liquid soap, water, and rinseless shampoo to maintain cleanliness. For nature’s calls, the crew will use Orion’s toilet, known as the Universal Waste Management System, a feature not available to Apollo crews. This system segregates urine and feces. Urine is vented into space, while feces are collected in a can for disposal upon return. In the event of a toilet malfunction, the crew can utilize collapsible contingency urinals, which hold about a liter of urine each. These urinals are designed to accommodate both males and females.

To address minor medical needs during the mission, Orion is equipped with a medical kit that contains basic first aid items and diagnostic tools, including a stethoscope and an electrocardiogram. These tools can provide essential data to physicians on the ground, and the crew will also have regular private medical conferences with flight surgeons in mission control to ensure their health and well-being.

Despite their busy schedule, the Artemis II crew has eight hours of sleep built into their routine to ensure they are well-rested and fully prepared for the demands of their mission. For most of the journey, all four crew members will sleep at the same time, using sleeping bags attached to the spacecraft’s walls for a good night’s rest.

Communication with mission control and loved ones is essential, and the astronauts will use handheld microphones, speakers, headsets, tablets, and laptops to stay connected and informed while in space.

The Artemis II mission will serve as a comprehensive test of Orion’s systems, confirming their functionality in the challenging environment of deep space. This mission is a stepping stone for future lunar surface missions, including the historic landing of the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. It will also play a vital role in establishing long-term lunar science and exploration capabilities, all while inspiring the next generation of explorers, known as the Artemis Generation. NASA, in collaboration with industry partners Aerojet Rocketdyne and Boeing, is at the forefront of these exciting developments in space exploration.