Pancakes, couscous, and a toilet quickly fixed... Diaries of "Artemis 2" in lunar orbit
The astronauts orbiting the moon as part of the "Artemis 2" mission do not live a life that is very different from what usually happens on Earth. For example, they eat pancakes and couscous, take pictures with their mobile phones, have problems with email, and fix a broken toilet. The four members of the "Artemis 2" crew will spend about ten days in lunar orbit aboard the "Orion" capsule, which is about the size of a small truck. Preparing for this mission, led by the US space agency NASA, was like preparing for camping, Christina Koch said. The box contains 58 pies, 43 cups of coffee, broccoli, and roast beef breasts with five types of spicy sauces, as well as maple syrup, which is famous in Canada because one of the astronauts is Canadian.But the toilet had a problem.
Unlike the Apollo mission, whose astronauts had nothing but bags to relieve themselves, some of which were left on the surface of the moon, the Artemis crews have actual toilets. Christina Cook took charge of repairing the toilet during the first 24 hours of the flight. "I'm proud to be the space plumber," she said Thursday evening, adding, "Let me remind you that it's the most important part of the vehicle. We all breathed a sigh of relief when the situation was resolved."
Information problems
Using the toilet causes so much noise in the vehicle that headphones should be used to avoid the noise when using it. Jeremy Hansen stated, "It's the only place where we can feel isolated for a short time." After the toilet, the crew encountered computer problems. During a live NASA broadcast, mission commander Reid Wiseman was heard complaining about issues with his email. The problem was resolved from the Houston mission in Texas. In zero gravity, one also had to consider how to sleep during a ten-day journey. The solution was to place sleeping bags attached to the walls to avoid floating in the middle of the vehicle. "Christina sleeps with her head down in the middle of the vehicle, like a suspended bat," Reid Wiseman joked, adding that "the position is more comfortable than you think."
"As if I were a child"
Weightlessness affects physical fitness, so half an hour of exercise a day is necessary. The vehicle is equipped with facilities similar to those found in gyms. NASA recently allowed the use of smartphones on board its spacecraft. "We give our crews the opportunity to preserve special moments for their families and share inspiring photos and recordings with the world," said agency director Jared Isaacman in February. Amid a multi-billion dollar mission and a geopolitical confrontation with China, humanity's fascination with outer space remains overwhelming. Jeremy Hansen did not hide his joy when responding to journalists' questions, saying, "I feel like a child." As the rocket took off, Victor Glover, the first Black person to travel to the moon, said, "You're trying to maintain a sense of professionalism, but the child in me wants to let out shouts of joy."
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