Trending Now - Artemis II: Pioneering Human Experiment Set to Transform Medicine

WHO:

CNN - The Artemis II astronauts are NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

CNN - Lisa Carnell is the Director of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division.

CNN - Dr. Steven Platts is the chief scientist for human research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

CNN - Lakiesha Hawkins is the acting deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.

WHAT:

CNN - The Artemis II mission includes a human experiment using four USB-size “avatars” known as organ chips.

CNN - The AVATAR study aims to simulate the effects of increased radiation and microgravity on human health.

CNN - The astronauts are collecting saliva samples before, during, and after the mission to track immune system biomarkers.

CNN - The Artemis II mission marks the first time astronauts beyond Earth orbit will participate in the Spaceflight Standard Measures study.

CNN - The Orion spacecraft contains six radiation sensors to measure radiation exposure.

WHERE:

CNN - The Artemis II mission is taking place in deep space, specifically around the moon.

CNN - The astronauts are operating from the Orion spacecraft, which is about the size of a campervan.

WHEN:

CNN - The Artemis II mission is occurring in April 2026.

CNN - The astronauts began providing blood, urine, and saliva samples six months prior to the launch.

WHY:

CNN - The AVATAR study aims to gather data on the crew’s immune responses to deep space radiation to tailor medical kits for future missions.

CNN - The goal is to prepare for potential health concerns for astronauts on long-duration missions, such as those to Mars.

HOW:

CNN - The organ chips are made with bone marrow tissue derived from the astronauts' cells.

CNN - The astronauts are wearing wrist monitors to track their movements and sleep in real-time during the mission.

CNN - Saliva samples are collected on special paper kept in small booklets due to the lack of refrigeration on the spacecraft.

CNN - The astronauts will undergo an “obstacle course” upon returning to Earth to reacclimate to gravity.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 05:42 UTC)

NASA's Artemis II mission, which is currently taking place around the moon, features astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, who are conducting a groundbreaking human experiment using USB-size "avatars" known as organ chips. This mission aims to study the effects of deep space radiation on human health by collecting saliva, blood, and urine samples, with the goal of tailoring medical kits for future long-duration missions like those to Mars. The astronauts are also wearing wrist monitors to track their movements and sleep, while the organ chips, made from their own bone marrow tissue, will help gather crucial data on their immune responses during this historic journey.