How do Artemis II astronauts maintain their physical health throughout the 10-day mission orbiting the Moon?
The historic Artemis II mission achieved remarkable success, with an interesting behind-the-scenes aspect being how the four astronauts maintained their physical condition within a confined space over 10 days.
The Artemis II crew exercises for 30 minutes daily using a device called the 'Flywheel'.
Due to limited space, NASA selected the Flywheel, weighing only 14 kg, as the sole exercise equipment on the mission. It uses an inertia-based resistance mechanism to simulate gravity's effect.
It operates like a 'yo-yo': the harder the cable is pulled, the faster the internal metal disc spins, pulling the cable back with equal force. The crew must resist this force, which effectively exercises their muscles.
This stimulates normal heart blood circulation and helps maintain muscle and bone mass, especially in the back and legs, which tend to atrophy fastest.
Mental health and sleep are managed by playing wake-up music to regulate the body's clock, compensating for the absence of normal sunrise and sunset cycles, with sleep schedules based on Earth time.
This preparation is crucial for re-entry when the capsule lands in the ocean. The body must endure G-forces generated by acceleration, and without strong muscles and cardiovascular systems, astronauts risk dizziness or injury.