NASA shows Orion's cramped quarters ahead of Artemis II

NASA released interior images of the Orion capsule, which will carry four astronauts for a 10-day Artemis II mission and includes a compact lavatory and an exercise device.

NASA has released images showing the interior of the Orion spacecraft days before the Artemis II launch window. Four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — will spend about 10 days inside the capsule during the mission. The capsule's habitable volume is reported as about 9.34 cubic metres, and NASA says it will study how crews adapt to isolation and confinement. Orion includes a compact lavatory in its own small cabin, rinseless washing supplies, and a compact flywheel exercise device. Key details: - Four astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen) will live inside Orion for the roughly 10-day Artemis II flight. - Orion's habitable volume is reported as about 9.34 cubic metres; the capsule measures about 3.35 metres tall and five metres in diameter at the base, and is compared in the article to the storage volume of a Ford Transit van. - NASA will run the ARCHR study during the mission to evaluate activity levels, sleep patterns, movements and interactions, using wristband monitors, surveys and motor-control tests. - The capsule includes a modified Universal Waste Management System placed in a dedicated small hygiene bay, plus liquid soap, flannels and rinseless shampoo for washing. - A compact flywheel resistance device is provided for daily exercise, with the article noting a planned 30-minute routine for muscle maintenance. - Users on X raised questions about privacy, hygiene and the effects of close quarters during the mission. Summary: The released interior images underline that Orion is a compact environment fitted with specific hygiene and exercise systems to support crew health during Artemis II. NASA intends to use the forthcoming 10-day flight and the ARCHR study to observe how the crew adapts physically and psychologically. The mission's launch window is reported as being days away.