NASA has set March 6 as the date for the first crewed flight to the Moon in over fifty years. The four astronauts of the Artemis II mission, three from NASA and one from the Canadian CSA, began their 14-day isolation period on February 20. This phase is a standard protocol to protect the crew's health before launch.
SLS and Orion Spacecraft Technical Rehearsals and Preparations 🔧
The mission, with a planned duration of ten days, will perform a lunar flyby without landing. Its main function is to test the systems of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule in a real environment. Preparations have included extensive crew training and complete technical rehearsals with the launch vehicle on the pad, verifying procedures and communications for launch day.
Two Weeks of 'Vacation' in Quarantine Before a Lunar Stroll 😷
While we try to avoid a common cold, they isolate to avoid any microbe before boarding a rocket. Their quarantine likely includes protocol reviews and space menus, a plan different from our binge-watching series. It's a method to ensure the only trip they take is the scheduled one, and not an extra one to the lunar module's infirmary.