Artemis II and Crew-12 Astronauts Enter Quarantine Ahead of Upcoming Missions

NASA's Artemis II and SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts have entered a pre-flight quarantine period to ensure they are in optimal health before their upcoming missions. This standard procedure aims to prevent any illnesses from affecting the crew or their objectives.

The Artemis II crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, began their quarantine on January 23, 2026, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Their mission, scheduled for February 8, 2026, will be the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972.

Simultaneously, the Crew-12 team—NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev—entered quarantine on January 28, 2026. They are preparing for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with a launch date set for February 11, 2026.

During quarantine, both crews will limit contact with others and adhere to health protocols to mitigate the risk of illness. This period also allows them to focus on final preparations and training for their respective missions.

The concurrent quarantines underscore NASA's active launch schedule and the agency's commitment to maintaining crew health and mission success as they advance human space exploration.