art002e027810 (April 8, 2026) – NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman holds a sample booklet as he prepares to collect a saliva sample aboard the Orion spacecraft. During the 10-day Artemis II mission, crew members blotted saliva samples on special paper for the Immune Biomarkers study. On Earth, scientists are analyzing those samples, looking at proteins, enzymes, and other biomarkers to understand how the crew adapted to deep space conditions aboard Orion. These biomarkers give insight into crews’ immune health, inflammation, nutritional status, bone health, and more. Credit: NASA
Date April 8, 2026