Since time immemorial, space exploration has been synonymous with great fascination and has attracted many humans. But being up there in space is nothing like glamour. With the Artemis program of NASA, astronauts flew to the Moon on board the Orion spacecraft that was specifically designed to perform as both a home and a workplace in space. In contrast to what can be commonly observed in movies, the crew of the Orion has limited living space designed to ensure efficient survival in the extreme conditions of deep space. Within this module, astronauts spend their time eating, sleeping, working, and performing various mission-related tasks, travelling millions of kilometres away from Earth.
Inside the Orion crew module of Artemis II: The astronauts’ living space
A comprehensive overview of the interiors of the Orion spacecraft by The Agence Spatiale Canadienne reveals that the most important component within the Orion spacecraft is the crew module, which is the sole compartment occupied by the crew throughout the mission. According to NASA, it is “the pressurised part of the Orion spacecraft…where the crew will live and work on their journey to the Moon and back.”The Orion capsule itself is rather small and occupies an internal volume of 330 cubic feet, comparable to the space provided by two minivans. However, it is ingeniously designed to carry up to four crew members for extended periods, reaching up to 21 days.The interior of the Orion crew module allows astronauts to be attached to specially designed seats at the time of launch and landing. Once they arrive in orbit, some of these seats can be moved out of the way to provide extra space in the cabin.
Living conditions in Orion: Sleeping, eating, and working
Space life aboard Orion can be described as space camping. There are no special cabins, only one place where the astronauts spend their time for everything from sleeping to working.Sleeping quarters are also quite primitive. The astronauts sleep in sleeping bags fixed onto walls or some other surface in order to remain in place during their sleep. Even such details as sleeping bags and window shades for the sleeping area were developed by specialists as per the requirements of the engineers from NASA.Food is packed into packages and heated up before being eaten by the crew. There is even a hygiene block on board including a special toilet. Also, there is exercise equipment for keeping fit in the microgravity environment.All work in this capsule is done with the help of the most advanced digital interfaces. There are screens showing information on everything around and providing an opportunity to conduct work efficiently.
Life support and safety aspects in deep space
However, one feature stands out in terms of importance when considering the experience of living inside Orion, which is the life-support systems on board the spacecraft. The air pressure, humidity, oxygen, temperature, and carbon dioxide in the spacecraft are all carefully regulated.Moreover, apart from making conditions as comfortable as possible inside the spacecraft, safety concerns were paramount as well. The capsule was designed to offer sufficient protection against both micrometeoroids and radiation dangers inherent in outer space. Should the need arise, the astronauts could even shelter themselves inside the onboard storage facilities in the case of a solar storm.Finally, all the essentials such as water, power, and oxygen necessary for survival and operation aboard Orion come directly from the European Service Module that attaches to the underside of the crew module.
