The four astronauts selected for NASA's Artemis 2 mission will participate in a series of biomedical studies during their flight around the moon. These experiments are designed to gather critical data on how the human body responds to the deep space environment beyond the protective magnetic field of Earth, a region humans have not visited in over 50 years.
Scheduled for no earlier than February 2026, the 10-day mission will serve as the first crewed flight test of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. In addition to validating the spacecraft's systems, the crew will become living subjects, providing insights into the physiological and psychological challenges of future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Key Takeaways
- Artemis 2 astronauts will provide biological samples to track changes in their cardiovascular health, immunity, and stress levels.
- Wearable sensors will monitor sleep patterns and stress to assess crew performance and cohesion in a confined, high-stakes environment.
- Specialized organ-on-a-chip technology will be used to study the effects of deep space radiation on human bone marrow.
- The mission will collect crucial data on radiation exposure, with contingency plans for astronauts to create makeshift shelters during solar events.
A Dual-Purpose Lunar Mission
The primary objective of Artemis 2 is to test the life-support systems and flight capabilities of the Orion spacecraft with a human crew. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will steer the capsule on a trajectory that takes them around the far side of the moon before returning to Earth.
However, the mission carries a significant secondary purpose. NASA will use this unique opportunity to conduct a range of human health investigations. The data collected will expand upon decades of research from the International Space Station (ISS) but with a crucial difference: the Artemis 2 crew will be exposed to the radiation and microgravity environment of deep space, outside the relative protection of Earth's magnetosphere.
First Deep Space Human Research in 50 Years
The last time humans traveled beyond low Earth orbit was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The Artemis 2 experiments represent the first modern, in-flight study of human physiology in a cislunar environment, providing an essential baseline for establishing a sustained human presence on the moon.
Comprehensive Health Monitoring Protocols
A central part of the research involves collecting standard biological samples from the crew. This process begins months before launch and continues after their return to Earth, creating a comprehensive timeline of physiological changes.
Standard Measures for a Unique Environment
Astronauts will provide samples of their blood, urine, and saliva at various stages of the mission. Scientists will analyze these samples to track shifts in key health indicators. According to NASA, this research will focus on cardiovascular health, immune system function, nutritional status, and stress markers. The goal is to build a detailed picture of how the body adapts to the rigors of deep space travel and subsequent recovery.
ARCHeR: Tracking Sleep and Stress
The Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness (ARCHeR) project will address the psychological and performance aspects of the mission. The crew will live and work in the confined space of the Orion capsule while following a demanding schedule far from home.
"Each Artemis 2 astronaut will wear wrist sensors to log movement and sleep throughout the mission," a recent NASA release explained. This data will be compared with pre-flight and post-flight evaluations to understand how the mission impacts alertness, stress, and the crew's ability to work together effectively.
Studying the Impact of Space Radiation
One of the greatest health risks for astronauts in deep space is radiation. Several experiments are specifically designed to measure its effects on the human body.
Immune System and Dormant Viruses
The crew's saliva samples will be used to monitor their immune systems. Researchers will look for specific markers that indicate how the body is reacting to space radiation. A key area of interest is the reactivation of dormant viruses, a phenomenon observed in astronauts on the ISS.
Simplified Sample Collection
To save space and power, the Orion spacecraft will not carry a freezer for biological samples. Instead, astronauts will deposit their saliva onto specially designed dab papers. These papers absorb and preserve the samples at room temperature, allowing scientists to test them for viruses like chickenpox and shingles upon the crew's return.
AVATAR: Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
In a novel experiment, the mission will carry miniature "avatars" of the astronauts' bone marrow. These are thumb-sized organ-on-a-chip devices containing blood samples grown to simulate human tissue. These chips will be exposed to the same deep space environment as the crew, including passage through the Van Allen radiation belts.
By comparing the reaction of the tissue on the chips to data from similar experiments on the ISS, scientists hope to validate this technology as a predictive tool for how human organs will respond to conditions outside Earth's magnetosphere.
Radiation Detection and Mitigation
While the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission carried over 5,600 radiation sensors, the crewed Artemis 2 will have a more streamlined system. Six active sensors inside the cabin will provide real-time radiation data. Additionally, each astronaut will wear a personal dosimeter to track their individual exposure levels.
These devices will measure both the constant background radiation and any sudden increases from solar particle events, such as solar storms. If radiation levels reach a predetermined threshold, the crew has a plan to create a temporary shelter.
- Shelter Construction: Astronauts will position themselves in a specific area of the Orion capsule.
- Natural Shielding: They will use the spacecraft's heatshield on one side and its water storage canisters on the other.
- Enhanced Protection: Both the heatshield and the water are more effective at absorbing penetrating radiation than other materials on the spacecraft, providing an added layer of safety during a high-radiation event.
The information gathered from these experiments is not just for the Artemis 2 crew. It will directly inform the designs, procedures, and medical protocols for all future Artemis missions, paving the way for astronauts to live and work safely on the moon and, eventually, on Mars.