With the first launch window for Artemis II now just days away, NASA has shared a glimpse inside the cramped quarters of the Orion spacecraft.
Four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – will spend 10 days living inside the capsule as they whizz around the moon.
During that time, the crew will stay in a tiny, equipment–filled space, no larger than the back of a Ford Transit.
While NASA says it will use the mission to learn how crews adjust to tight quarters, space fans have pointed out one very obvious problem.
Although Orion is equipped with a toilet and washing facilities, many commenters wondered just how hygienic the capsule will be after a week and a half in space.
On X (formerly Twitter), one sceptical commenter wrote: ‘No mention of how they will be in extremely close quarters and will have to change each other’s diapers and wipe.
‘The smell would be intolerable.’
Another concerned commenter asked: ‘Do they change their clothes at all and if so, since there is a woman in the crew, is there privacy for that and toileting?’
Four astronauts will spend 10 days living inside the cramped confines of the Orion spacecraft
Although Orion has 30 per cent more habitable volume than the Apollo capsule, it is still smaller than the back of a Ford Transit. Pictured (left to right): Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Christina Koch
On X, some space enthusiasts had serious concerns about the smell that could be caused by four astronauts living, exercising, and using the bathroom in such a small space
During the Artemis II mission, the four–person crew will launch from Kennedy Space Centre on a round trip passing around the far side of the moon.
Once their Space Launch System (SLS) rocket has pushed the astronauts out into orbit, the early stages will detach and leave Orion to drift by itself through space.
While Orion has 30 per cent more space than the Apollo capsule, it is still absolutely tiny for four people.
Measuring just 3.35 metres (11 feet) in height and five metres (16.5 feet) in diameter at the base, Orion has a habitable volume of just 9.34 cubic metres (330 cubic feet).
For comparison, a Ford Transit van typically has 10 cubic metres (353 cubic feet) of storage in the back.
Conditions are so cramped that NASA wants to study how the crew physically and psychologically adapt to their time in space.
In a video posted to X, NASA explains: ‘To better understand how isolation, confinement, and other aspects of spaceflight affect human health and performance, Artemis II crew members will evaluate their activity levels, sleep patterns, movements and interactions for a study called Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness – or ARCHR for short.’
The astronauts will wear sports–watch–like wristbands to measure their movements and sleep patterns in real time, as well as completing surveys and motor control tests before and after flight.
Other concerned space fans were worried that there might not be privacy for washing, changing, or using the toilet in the tiny confines of the Orion capsule
Despite the obvious challenges, a number of commenters on social media were bizarrely unimpressed by the technological and human achievements of spaceflight
The crew will sleep for eight hours per day in sleeping bag–like hammocks that attach to handrails (pictured)
In the biggest upgrade over Apollo, Orion features a separate toilet compartment hidden behind a panel in the floor (circled in red)
However, despite these obvious challenges, some space enthusiasts remained bizarrely unimpressed.
One commenter wrote on X: ‘Relax. Once you get used to it, it’ll be fine. I could do the trip to Mars in a freakin’ Apollo capsule.’
Another said: ‘So NASA’s gonna put Fitbits on the astronauts? Cool, I’ve been wearing one for over three years.’
Despite the small amount of space, NASA has managed to fit in a few comforts that should make the journey more bearable.
For those concerned about the smell, Orion is fitted with a modified version of the toilet from the International Space Station known as the Universal Waste Management System.
This is essentially an elaborate vacuum cleaner with a seat and a specialised nozzle that operates by ‘using air flow to pull fluid and solid waste away from the body’.
Compared to the toilet on the ISS, Orion’s lavatory has been modified to fit in an even smaller space and to be more practical for female astronauts.
Perhaps most importantly, NASA has even found enough space on Orion to fit the toilet in its own tiny room.
The toilet room will also allow astronauts to wash in relative privacy, using liquid soap, flannels and rinseless shampoo to stay clean. Pictured: A training mockup of the Artemis II toilet used to practice on Earth
The crew will use a similar toilet to the one found on the ISS, known as the Universal Waste Management System (pictured), that uses ‘air flow to pull fluid and solid waste away’
Orion even has room for a compact gym with a flywheel system (pictured) that allows for simple resistance exercises
On Apollo, astronauts had to simply float in a corner while doing their business, but Artemis II’s crew have the luxury of a tiny cabin in the ‘floor’ of the capsule.
Speaking in a video blog, Artemis II crewmember Jeremy Hansen described this as ‘the one place we can go during the mission where we can actually feel like we’re alone for a moment.’
This hygiene bay also offers the crew a place to wash in relative privacy, using liquid soap, flannels, and rinseless shampoo to remain clean.
To stay healthy and prevent muscle atrophy while in microgravity, Orion even packs in a compact gym for the astronauts to use.
The crew will use a flywheel device for simple resistance exercises like rowing, squats, and deadlifts for 30 minutes every day.
