Artemis 2 mission science and technology news conference

In this NASA news conference, leaders in the Artemis program and Science Mission Directorate (SMD) discussed the science and technology for the Artemis 2 mission.

Artemis 2 will be the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, sending four astronauts on a 10-day flyby of the Moon. While the primary operational goal is to test the Orion spacecraft’s life support and manual piloting systems with humans on board, this briefing highlights how the mission also serves as a critical research platform.

The crew includes Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist 1), and Canadian Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist 2).

The NASA panelists included:

• Matt Ramsey, Artemis II mission manager, NASA Headquarters
• Debbie Korth, deputy Orion Program manager, NASA Johnson
• Jacob Bleacher, manager, Science, Technology Utilization, and Integration, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

The panel explained that on Artemis 2, the crew members themselves are the primary science experiment. Because this is the first time humans will venture beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO) since 1972, the bulk of the research focuses on understanding how deep space radiation and isolation affect human physiology. Additionally, the mission will test new laser communication technologies and deploy small satellite payloads (CubeSats) to study the space environment.

Technology demonstrations

NASA leaders highlighted two major technology tests that will shape future missions to the Moon and Mars:

• O2O (Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System):
  • This system uses laser communications instead of traditional radio waves.
  • It allows for significantly higher data transmission rates (up to 260 megabits per second), enabling the crew to send 4K high-definition video and large scientific data files back to Earth in near real-time.
  • This tech is vital for future Mars missions where high-bandwidth communication will be essential.
• RPOD (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Demonstration):
  • Shortly after reaching orbit, the crew will manually pilot the Orion spacecraft to approach its own spent upper stage (the ICPS) as a target.
  • This is a “tech demo” to prove Orion’s handling qualities for docking. It simulates the operations required for future missions where Orion must dock with the Starship lander or the Lunar Gateway station.

Science experiments

Dr. Jacob Bleacher and other experts emphasized that the unique environment of deep space (specifically the radiation in the Van Allen Belts and beyond) cannot be perfectly simulated on the ISS. Key experiments include:

• The “Omics” & Standard Measures:
  • Comprehensive collection of blood, urine, saliva, and fecal samples before, during, and after the flight.
  • Goal: To establish a baseline for how deep space travel alters the human microbiome, immune system, and gene expression.
• ARCHeR (Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness):
  • A study focusing on sleep and performance. The crew will wear sensors to track sleep quality and circadian rhythms in a high-stress, confined, deep-space environment.
• AVATAR (Organ-on-a-Chip):
  • This experiment carries small chips containing lab-grown human tissue (specifically bone marrow cells derived from the astronauts’ own blood).
  • Goal: To see how human cells react to deep space radiation without subjecting the astronauts to invasive biopsies during the flight.
• Space Radiation Analysis:
  • The crew will wear active dosimeters and use the HERA (Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor) system to provide real-time warnings if a solar particle event occurs, allowing them to retreat to the spacecraft’s storm shelter.

Secondary payloads and geology

• CubeSats: The mission will carry simpler, smaller satellites (CubeSats) provided by international partners and educational institutions. These will be deployed to study space weather and the radiation environment independent of the crew.
• Lunar Observation:
  • The astronauts are receiving geology training to visually identify and photograph specific lunar features (craters, volcanic deposits) from orbit.
  • They will validate how well humans can identify scientific targets of interest from a distance, a skill critical for future landing site selection.