In a potential mission set for February, a group of astronauts, including Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, are poised to venture to the moon. This journey is unprecedented, offering a new perspective compared to past moon missions, which often faced darkness.
Artemis II is designed to take these four individuals on a voyage around the moon, surpassing previous human exploration limits. The primary objective is to pave the way for Artemis III, which aims to land humans on the moon for the first time since 1972.
While the astronauts will be conducting tests on the spacecraft’s various systems, they also serve as vital subjects for human space exploration research.
Unlike the Apollo missions that focused on lunar rock samples and surface experiments, Artemis aims to delve into the effects of deep space on the human body.
“Our utmost priority is ensuring the safe return of our crew,” stated Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist, during a recent press briefing. The agency has devised an extensive research strategy to support future Artemis missions, emphasizing the necessity of understanding the space environment.
Human bodies are not naturally suited for space travel, having evolved to thrive within Earth’s protective environment. Understanding how to safeguard astronauts is crucial as humanity explores space, potentially aiming to colonize the moon or Mars.
AVATAR (not the movie)
Several experiments, including ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health & Readiness), have already commenced. ARCHeR involves astronauts wearing a wristwatch-like device to monitor their sleep, stress, and cognitive functions before, during, and after the mission.
Astronaut Hansen highlighted the astronauts themselves as the primary experimental subjects, gathering an abundance of data to support future missions and crew well-being.
Another initiative, AVATAR (A Virtual Astronaut Tissue Analog Response), aims to simulate the impact of deep space conditions, such as extreme radiation and microgravity, on the human body. By utilizing AVATAR, researchers can study blood cell samples collected from the astronauts to mimic bone marrow responses, crucial for immune system functioning and radiation sensitivity.
Lisa Carnell, director of NASA’s biological and physical sciences division, emphasized the importance of this data in developing personal protective measures for astronauts on deep-space missions, potentially benefiting Earth-based applications as well.
Furthermore, monitoring saliva samples from the astronauts will provide insights into their immune responses in space, including hormonal changes, virus reactions, and cellular behavior under conditions like radiation exposure and isolation.
The aim is to evaluate potential reactivation of dormant viruses in space, building on previous research, such as a study involving an astronaut with the herpes zoster virus on the International Space Station.
“This research offers valuable insights into the effects of deep space missions on the immune system,” remarked Bleacher, underscoring the significance of such studies for future space endeavors.
While not as glamorous as landing on the moon, like the upcoming Artemis III mission, Artemis II plays a crucial role in establishing a sustainable human presence in space, potentially spanning decades.
Reflecting on the future,