ARCHeR

Deep space travel's effects on sleep, stress, cognition, and teamwork have never been fully studied during lunar missions. ARCHeR fills that gap.

Crew members wear wristband devices that continuously monitor movement and sleep throughout the mission. Pre- and post-flight evaluations measure cognition, behavior, sleep quality, and teamwork in the unique environment of Orion. Results will inform future crew support systems and mission planning for Moon and Mars.

IMMUNE BIOMARKERS

Saliva provides a unique window into immune system function in deep space. Dry saliva samples are collected on specialized paper booklets before, during, and after flight — refrigeration isn't available due to volume constraints. Wet saliva and blood samples are collected pre- and post-flight to augment the data.

Scientists will investigate how the immune system responds to radiation, isolation, and distance from Earth. They'll also examine whether dormant viruses reactivate in space — as observed on the ISS with viruses that cause chickenpox and shingles.

AVATAR

The first use of organ-on-a-chip technology beyond the Van Allen Belt. These devices — roughly the size of a USB thumb drive — contain bone marrow cells grown from each crew member's own pre-flight blood donations, creating miniature biological "avatars."

The chips measure how each individual astronaut responds to deep space stressors including extreme radiation and microgravity. Bone marrow is particularly sensitive to radiation, making it an ideal early-warning indicator. Results could also lead to personalized cancer treatments on Earth.

Partners: NASA, NIH/NCATS, BARDA, Space Tango, and Emulate.

STANDARD MEASURES

Artemis II astronauts will be the first in deep space to participate in the Spaceflight Standard Measures study — a comprehensive physiological snapshot program running since 2018. The study collects consistent core measurements across multiple missions for direct comparison.

RADIATION SENSORS

Artemis I flew with 5,600 passive and 34 active radiation sensors. For Artemis II, six active hybrid electronic radiation assessors (HERA) are deployed at various locations inside the crew module, and crew members carry personal dosimeters.

NASA partnered with DLR (German Space Agency) on an upgraded M-42 EXT sensor offering 6× more resolution than the Artemis I version — enabling accurate measurement of heavy ions, which pose the highest radiation risk. Four M-42 EXT sensors are placed around the cabin.

If hazardous space weather is detected, mission control can direct the crew to shelter in Orion's designated radiation shelter — stowage bays packed with supplies that provide additional shielding.

LUNAR OBSERVATIONS CAMPAIGN

The Artemis II crew will be the first humans to observe the lunar surface up close since Apollo 17 in 1972. They'll document observations through photography and audio recordings as Orion flies approximately 4,700 miles beyond the far side of the Moon.

A dedicated science officer in Mission Control's Science Evaluation Room at JSC will consult real-time with a team of lunar scientists specializing in impact cratering, volcanism, tectonism, and lunar ice — the first integration of science flight control operations on an Artemis mission.

Which areas of the far side are visible and illuminated will depend on the exact date and time of launch.

CUBESATS — SECONDARY PAYLOADS

Four international CubeSats ride aboard the SLS Orion Stage Adapter, each roughly twice the size of Artemis I's CubeSats. They're released after the proximity operations demonstration when Orion is a safe distance away.