Inside Orion, the spacecraft capsule for Artemis II

After fifty years, the Artemis II mission is bringing humanity closer to the Moon once again.

The mission aims to orbit the Moon before returning to Earth in 10 days.

The term 'deep space' as used by NASA officials for this mission refers to areas beyond Earth's orbit, and the journey is therefore categorised as a deep space voyage.

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Credit: Lockheed Martin

The interior

The Artemis II mission is going to take Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch from NASA, on a campervan-sized capsule for a nearly 10-day journey around the Moon.

Lockheed Martin is the contractor building the capsule. The interior features an aluminium structure consisting of crisscrossing beams. This forms the base where the crew seats are located.

The four seats can be adjusted to ensure that all the controls can be reached by the crew while wearing their pressurised suits.

Tanks and a dispenser will be provided for drinking water, as well as a simple way to rehydrate and heat food.

According to the official NASA report, Orion's design enables it to withstand the high speeds of re-entry from lunar orbit.

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Credit: NASA

Some of Orion's main features 

Life Support Systems: Advanced environmental control and life support systems are designed to keep the crew safe and healthy on long-duration missions.

Radiation Protection: These systems are needed to protect the crew and spacecraft systems from the cosmic and solar radiation encountered in deep space.

Heat Shield: Designed to withstand extreme temperatures of 5,000°F on re-entry from the Moon at 24,700 mph while keeping the crew safe and comfortable.

Propulsion System: The service module has 33 engines, including a large main engine used for high-power deep-space manoeuvres.

Deep Space Communications & Navigation: Unique systems designed specifically for deep space travel. 

Redundancy:  When returning quickly isn't an option, redundant systems ensure critical elements, such as computers, remain operational if something goes wrong.

NASA describes Orion as a safe temporary home. The advanced heat shield will be put to the ultimate test, according to them, in the return to Earth. Upon re-entering the atmosphere at high speed, the spacecraft must be able to withstand extreme temperatures.

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Credit: NASA

Model of the toilet aboard the Orion spacecraft. Credit: Canadian Space Agency

Future missions

Artemis II is a test flight to help prepare humans for future missions. The crew will test the systems and procedures, but also refine techniques for everything that pertains to life in space: eating, sleeping, staying clean, exercising, and communicating with the ground while they are on Orion.

According to NASA, the mission to the Moon will serve as a stepping stone to reaching Mars. The spacecraft already demonstrated its maximum range during the previous Artemis I mission in 2022.

The Orion capsule will fall into the Pacific Ocean at the end of the expedition, opening the door for a manned moon landing in 2028.

Sources: CNN, La Nación, Lockheed Martin, Government of Canada

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