Surrounded by vast, dark spaces, you huddle in sleeping bags with three friends in a space the size of a five-person tent.
This is not a camping trip. Life in Orion. A spacecraft carrying four voyagers to the moon for the Artemis II mission.
The crew left Earth on April 1, when NASA’s Space Launch System crackled as the solid rocket booster blasted into the atmosphere at 20 times the speed of sound. Once in orbit, they tested the controls and began converting the capsule into a living and working space for the long journey to the moon.
Orion has 60% more space than the Apollo Command Module, but life on a space mission is anything but spacious. Here, we take a closer look at how astronauts will make the most of the 330 cubic feet of space on their 10-day journey to the far side of the moon and back.
How will Artemis II astronauts prepare meals in space?
The diet for the Artemis II mission was selected to maintain the health and performance of the crew during the lunar journey. All meals must be safe, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, and hydrating, as there are no resupply options. Food experts work with the crew to ensure meals meet caloric, hydration, and nutritional needs while taking into account individual preferences. Orion lacks refrigeration and delayed loading capabilities, so fresh food is not available.
Crew members will have designated meal times and will be allowed two cups of flavored beverages, including coffee, per day.
189 unique food and drink items will be flown on this mission, including over 10 types of drinks. There are five types of hot sauce, exactly 58 tortillas, and a variety of sweet treats, from puddings and cobblers to cakes, chocolates, and cookies.
The crew will use drinking water dispensers during the mission. The dispenser has two separate water lines that connect to the crew module, allowing it to rehydrate food, create drinks, and keep the crew hydrated. Connected to four pressurized tanks within the service module.
Food warmers heat rehydratable, heat-stabilized food and beverages during crew meals. It stores compactly and can be fixed to the cabin surface using Velcro if necessary. The unit plugs into Orion’s power utility panel for operation.
How will Artemis II astronauts sleep in space?
Astronauts aboard the Orion capsule will use specially designed sleeping bags that are attached to the spacecraft’s walls and act like hammocks to prevent drifting in the microgravity environment. Most nights of the 10-day trip, the entire crew sleeps eight hours at the same time to maintain synchronized schedules.
space hygiene
Astronauts will be kept clean by using a hygiene bay next to the crew area. Orion’s toilet, known as the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS), was not available to the Apollo crew, but is a compact titanium vacuum-based toilet designed for microgravity. It uses suction to draw urine and feces into separate containers. Fecal matter is retained and urine is expelled into the space. This system features a privacy stall and ergonomic seat. Airflow starts automatically when opened. This system is similar to the one used on the International Space Station.
If the toilet malfunctions, the crew can use a collapsible urinal that collects urine in a bag and drains it overboard. If the UWMS fails, fecal matter can still collect in the toilets even without fans separating them.
Shortly after launch, NASA reported a toilet malfunction. “The toilet fan has been reported to be clogged,” NASA spokesman Gary Jordan said during live commentary on the mission. NASA has confirmed that astronauts can continue to use space toilets to poop instead of urinating, Space.com reported. The Artemis II crew worked closely with mission control in Houston and were able to return the Orion spacecraft’s toilet to normal operation after a close operations demonstration.
How will Orion’s crew train?
The crew of Artemis II will exercise for 30 minutes each day using a flywheel, a simple cable-based device for aerobic exercise such as rowing and resistance training such as squats and deadlifts. The flywheel device is installed on the floor next to the bathroom door, along the wall with a hatch.
SOURCE USA TODAY NETWORK REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS. NASA; Canadian Space Agency
