Collecting Human Health and Performance Data in Space

What Do We Collect?

ROI provides supplies for blood, urine, fecal, skin microbiota, and saliva collections that are central to many of the studies currently under way on the International Space Station. The group also provides technical direction on sample collection processes.

Gathering biological samples from crew members before, during and after spaceflight can provide a window into how the immune, renal, musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous and cardiovascular systems function in space. Molecules within body fluids can also act as early indicators of health changes. They can alert doctors and scientists involved with Mission Control about when medical care may be needed, or if interventions can help keep crew members healthy.

How Do We Collect It?

The ROI element maintains and operates a pantry of sample collection hardware and biomedical research equipment that support human health research.

ROI also supports studies of crew member behavior and movement with the help of a variety of devices on the International Space Station. Measurements of interest may include:

Actigraphy

ROI monitors crew activity and light exposure with wearable sensors. These sensors allow researchers to better understand and evaluate crew members’ circadian rhythms and sleep-wake patterns
Image credit: NASA

Imaging

ROI supplies an ultrasound device, which is used to image a crew member’s internal tissues and organs for research and medical diagnostic purposes.
Image credit: NASA

Centrifuge

ROI supplies a centrifuge on the space station, which spins blood, ensuring that various parts of blood (for instance, blood plasma) are separated so they can be available for further analysis. 
Image credit: NASA

Additional information about ROI’s on-orbit hardware systems, software, and consumables can be found in our ROI ISS Facilities Overview.

Learn more about experiments being conducted in space.