Space Station research supports Artemis II mission

Research aboard the International Space Station helped develop life‑support and safety systems for NASA's Artemis II Orion spacecraft and established methods—like organ‑chip studies and observation frameworks—that will be used during the Artemis II flight.

The International Space Station has served as a laboratory in low Earth orbit since 2000 and is being used to prepare technologies and methods for returning humans beyond Earth orbit. Some systems and procedures tested on the station informed the Orion spacecraft's life‑support and safety equipment for Artemis II. Scientific methods and hardware developed on the station—such as organ‑chips, psychological and physiological monitoring, observation practices, and small satellite operations—are being adapted for the Artemis II mission. These contributions aim to extend research and operational experience into deep space as NASA prepares for further lunar exploration. What we know: - Research on the space station helped lay the foundation for the Orion spacecraft's life‑support and safety systems, including radiation sensing, carbon dioxide removal, fire response equipment, a toilet system, a heat exchanger, and a backup navigation system. - Spaceflight Standard Measures, which track psychological and physiological data, will expand to collect astronaut information beyond low Earth orbit during Artemis II. - Organ‑chip experiments and related hardware used on the station will study deep space stressors with cells from Artemis II crew members. - Methods proven through Crew Earth Observations are being adapted into Crew Lunar Observations for handheld imaging and geological study of the Moon's far side. - CubeSat deployments from the station and other spacecraft have informed plans to include CubeSats on Artemis II for technology demonstrations and studies in higher orbits. Summary: The space station has provided tested systems and scientific methods that are being carried forward to Artemis II, supporting life‑support, crew health monitoring, observations, and small‑satellite demonstrations. Artemis II will fly four astronauts around the Moon and will extend several research activities beyond low Earth orbit. Data and operational experience from Artemis II are intended to inform later missions, including surface exploration planning for Artemis III.