NASA shows cramped Orion quarters where astronauts will live for days

NASA released interior details of the Orion crew module ahead of Artemis II, showing a 9.34 cubic metre habitable space where four astronauts will spend about 10 days; the agency will study how the crew adapts to confinement using wearable monitors and surveys.

NASA has released images and descriptions of the interior of the Orion crew module ahead of the Artemis II mission. Four astronauts will live inside the capsule for about 10 days during a lunar flyby. The habitable volume is reported as 9.34 cubic metres, which the article compares to the storage space in a Ford Transit. NASA says it will study how isolation and confinement affect crew health and performance. What is known: - The Artemis II crew are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen and the mission duration is about 10 days. - Orion's reported habitable volume is 9.34 cubic metres, roughly comparable to the back of a Ford Transit. - The capsule includes a separate toilet compartment using a modified Universal Waste Management System and a small hygiene bay for washing with rinseless products. - Sleeping arrangements use sleeping-bag style hammocks attached to handrails, with about eight hours scheduled per day. - A compact exercise device with a flywheel will be used for daily resistance workouts to reduce muscle atrophy. - NASA will run the ARCHR study during the flight, with crewmembers wearing wristband monitors and completing surveys and motor tests to measure activity, sleep and interactions. Summary: NASA will use Artemis II both to complete a lunar flyby and to collect human-health data on living in a confined deep-space capsule. The ARCHR study and wearable monitors are intended to record activity and sleep patterns while four people share the 9.34 cubic metres of habitable space. Launch windows have been identified from February through April, and NASA plans to apply findings to future mission planning.