Keeping Artemis II Astronauts Healthy: A Two-Week Lockdown

A Half-Century Human Moon Voyage

The Artemis II mission, set to be the first human moon voyage in half a century, is taking no chances with astronaut health. Before liftoff, the four crew members must spend 14 days in quarantine.

Why Quarantine?

• Avoiding major illnesses is crucial.
• Even a simple cold can cause big problems in space.
• A stuffy nose might make it hard to equalize ear pressure during spacewalks.

Quarantine Process

• Location: Houston (astronauts who live there can stay home).
• After Quarantine: Crew heads straight to Florida's Kennedy Space Center for the launch.
• Overseen by: NASA's Health Stabilization Program (HSP).

During Quarantine

• Astronauts continue training.
• Regular medical check-ups.
• Vaccinations required:
• COVID-19
• Flu
• Measles

Strict Quarantine Rules

• No leaving the quarantine area.
• If at home:
• No one in the household can go out.
• Contactless deliveries only.
• Masks required for any outside contact.

Historical Context

• NASA has enforced quarantine since the Apollo missions.
• Apollo 13: A backup astronaut's exposure to rubella almost changed the mission crew.

Quarantine Length Evolution

• Originally: 21 days.
• Reduced to: 7 days.
• Current: 14 days.

NASA's Goal

• Prevent any health issues from disrupting the mission.
• Artemis II is a significant step in space exploration.
• Keeping astronauts healthy is crucial.