The Artemis II crew has successfully completed their remarkable mission, returning to Earth after an unprecedented journey that took them further into space than any human has ventured before. Their mission, which included a fly-by of the moon, marks a significant milestone in space exploration.

Before embarking on this 10-day voyage, the four astronauts underwent extensive and rigorous training. Like many NASA missions, the preparation was intense, focusing on overcoming the challenges of zero gravity. This training was essential for the crew, as they had to learn how to manage their bodies’ natural responses in the weightless environment of space.

The crew, consisting of astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, began their preparations in earnest in June 2023. Their training was distinct from that of astronauts preparing for the International Space Station, reflecting the unique challenges of the Artemis II mission.

Given the mission’s unique trajectory, which included a journey around the moon, the astronauts were required to be self-reliant. They trained extensively to handle any unforeseen issues independently, as they would be beyond Earth’s communication range during portions of their mission.

Jacki Mahaffey, the chief training officer for Artemis II, emphasized the importance of their preparation, describing it as “all-risk mitigation.” This comprehensive training ensured the crew was equipped to face any challenges during their groundbreaking mission.

Artemis II chief training officer Jacki Mahaffey described the training as “all-risk mitigation”.

“By preparing the astronauts and flight controllers for what they might encounter, we enable mission success,” she said in an article on the NASA website in January.

The crew’s training proved effective throughout their lunar journey, including when the team had an issue with an essential piece of equipment: the spacecraft’s toilet.

Training for the Artemis II mission

NASA said the four astronauts had to closely study the Orion spacecraft and how to operate it at different phases of the journey.

The agency built the Orion Mission Simulator at its Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, so the crew could rehearse everything from routine operations to emergency responses during their journey.

The astronauts wore special spacesuits designed for the Artemis II mission during training, and engineers tested the capsule’s life support systems based on data collected from the training.

A key part of their training was in photography and lunar observation, as the astronauts were expected to use their eyes to study the moon.

“Human eyes and brains are highly sensitive to subtle changes in colour, texture, and other surface characteristics,” NASA said in a frequently asked questions article on the Artemis II mission.

“Having astronaut eyes observe the lunar surface directly, in combination with the context of all the advances that scientists have made about the moon over the last several decades, may uncover new discoveries and a more nuanced appreciation for the features on the surface of the moon.”

To prepare for the observation, the astronauts had to study the moon’s far side and learn how to identify crater shapes, surface textures and colours.

The also trained in a T-38 jet to build spatial awareness and adaptability, which NASA hoped would “translate directly to decision-making under pressure in spaceflight”.

Preparing body and mind

Without Earth’s gravity, both bone and muscle atrophy, leading to complex health risks for astronauts.

Early on in US space research, scientists realised that exercise would be a critical part of maintaining healthy bones and muscles in space.

Early missions used simple elastic bands, but exercise hardware has become increasingly advanced.

The Artemis crew members also had to familiarise themselves with the Orion capsule’s flywheel exercise device, which was developed by NASA and space researchers for astronauts to exercise in space.

The device, which NASA describes as being akin to a rowing machine, contains a flywheel, a series of pulleys and a torque limiter inside a frame that’s as big as a shoebox.

Artemis II’s toilet problem

Despite the almost three years of training, the Artemis II crew was still hit by a technical challenge — the toilet in the Orion capsule wasn’t working properly.

Over the weekend, NASA confirmed a wastewater vent line was clogged, with the BBC reporting that the crew had to adjust the spacecraft to point the vent towards the sun to clear the clog.

Speaking to CNN, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said that, throughout the history of human spaceflight, “the toilet working is almost a bonus capability”.

Isaacman said the Artemis team had installed backup vent lines, and the astronauts were “well prepared” for the situation.

What did the Artemis II astronauts eat?

The Artemis II crew were provided with 189 unique food and beverage items during their mission, including coffee and smoothies, NASA said.

They could choose from a dinner menu of tortillas, nuts, barbecue beef brisket, cauliflower, macaroni and cheese, with cookies, butternut squash and chocolate as snacks.

Most of the meals were dehydrated before being packed and then rehydrated by the crew before being consumed.

The menu was developed by space food experts and the crew to manage calories, hydration and nutrition.

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