In this follow-up episode of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell continues his conversation with Dr. Jose Hurtado, focusing on the human side of the Artemis II mission what it’s actually like to live and work in space.
Before heading to the Moon, the crew will spend time orbiting Earth, adjusting to strict routines. Dr. Hurtado explains how astronauts manage sleep in space, how long they stay in orbit, and how there is no time for boredom in this mission.
The mission also includes important testing, from spacecraft systems to biological experiments happening back on Earth, that study how our bodies and even basic biological materials change in space.
Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.
This was originally recorded April 2nd, 2026 at 1 PM (MDT)