The Artemis II mission crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, has entered quarantine. This is standard procedure prior to any space flight.
The astronauts’ quarantine began on January 23. This period, officially called the health stabilization program, usually begins about 14 days before launch. During this time, astronauts minimize their contact with other people. This is necessary to rule out the possibility of illnesses that could delay their mission or develop during the flight.
At this time, NASA has not yet set an official launch date for Artemis II, as testing of the rocket and spacecraft continues. Starting quarantine now allows for flexibility. Depending on the results of the launch dress rehearsal or other operational considerations, the crew may exit quarantine and return to it 14 days before any date.
The crew began quarantine in Houston. If preparations for launch proceed successfully, they will fly to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida approximately six days before launch, where they will stay in special accommodations. During quarantine, the crew will be able to continue communicating regularly with friends, family, and colleagues who are complying with quarantine rules, and will avoid public places, wear masks, and maintain distance from other people with whom they come into contact, while continuing their latest training and medical examinations.
Meanwhile, NASA continues to prepare the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, as well as related ground systems, for launch. A key milestone will be the so-called wet dress rehearsal, during which the SLS will be fully fueled and a pre-launch countdown rehearsal will be conducted. If no problems are identified during the test, NASA will most likely give the mission the green light. The earliest launch window for Artemis II will open on February 6. During the mission, four astronauts will fly around the Moon and then return to Earth.
You can read more about medical problems arising during space missions in our article.
