Surrounded by a vast dark expanse, huddled in sleeping bags with three of your friends in a space the size of a five-person tent.
This isn’t a camping trip ‒ it’s life on Orion ‒ the spacecraft conveying four voyagers to the moon for the Artemis II mission.
The crew left Earth on April 1, solid rocket boosters crackling as NASA’s Space Launch System hurled them through the atmosphere 20 times faster than the speed of sound. Once in orbit, they tested out the controls and began to convert the capsule into a living and working space for the long journey to the moon.
While Orion affords 60% more space than the Apollo command module, life on a space mission is hardly a spacious affair. Here's a closer look at how the astronauts will make the most of their 330 cubic feet during the 10-day trip to the far side of the moon and back:
Food for the Artemis II mission is selected to keep the crew healthy and performing well during their lunar journey. With no resupply options, all meals must be safe, shelf-stable, ready-to-eat and rehydratable. Food experts collaborate with the crew to ensure meals meet their calorie, hydration, and nutrition needs, while considering personal preferences. Fresh foods won't be possible because Orion lacks refrigeration and late-load capability.
