KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The Artemis II mission will not only test the Orion spacecraft, but it will also evaluate how modern deep-space travel affects the human body.
The mission is expected to send astronauts farther from Earth than they have traveled in more than 50 years.
Scientists will track how the crew responds to microgravity, radiation and the stress of traveling into deep space.
While researchers have studied the human body’s response to space for decades, Artemis II is expected to take that research to a new level.
Tracking the physiological responses of the crew will provide data intended to shape the future of space exploration.
Scientists plan to use the information to better understand the limits of human endurance during long-duration flights.
Findings from the flight will also be used on planned missions to the moon’s surface, and beyond.
These future missions rely on understanding how the environment beyond low-Earth orbit impacts human health over time.
Research conducted in space could also lead to medical breakthroughs on Earth.
According to space medicine experts at the University of Central Florida, the data collected during the mission could contribute to advancements in heart health and the treatment of various diseases.
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