NASA's Artemis II Mission to Conduct Pioneering Human Health Research in Deep Space
The upcoming Artemis II mission will carry astronauts farther from Earth than any human has been in over half a century, facilitating groundbreaking studies on the effects of deep space travel on human health.
NASA's Artemis II mission, scheduled for February 2026, will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon. This mission marks the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo era and aims to test the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket in preparation for future lunar landings.
Beyond testing spacecraft systems, Artemis II will serve as a platform for extensive human health research. The crew will participate in several studies to understand the physiological and psychological impacts of deep space travel. One such study, the Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness (ARCHeR), will monitor sleep patterns, stress levels, cognitive functions, and teamwork dynamics. Crew members will wear wrist devices to track movement and sleep, providing data for real-time health monitoring and post-mission evaluations.
Another investigation, the Immune Biomarkers study, will analyze saliva samples collected before, during, and after the mission to assess changes in the immune system. Due to limited storage capabilities on the Orion spacecraft, astronauts will use a method involving blotting saliva onto special paper, allowing for sample preservation without refrigeration.
The Artemis II Standard Measures study will collect a comprehensive set of physiological data, including blood, urine, and saliva samples, to evaluate nutritional status, cardiovascular health, and immune function. This data will contribute to a growing repository of astronaut health information, aiding in the development of countermeasures for future missions.
A groundbreaking experiment, known as A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response (AVATAR), will utilize organ-on-a-chip technology to study the effects of deep space radiation and microgravity on human cells. These small devices, containing living human cells that mimic the structure and function of bone marrow, will be flown alongside the crew. Post-mission analysis will provide insights into how deep space conditions impact cellular health, informing personalized medical approaches for future astronauts.
These studies aim to enhance understanding of the challenges posed by deep space travel on human health, informing strategies to ensure astronaut safety and performance on future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
