Standard Measures
Description: This study collects a standardized set of measurements across multiple body systems and at various time points to provide a comprehensive snapshot of how spaceflight affects the human body and mind. It’s designed to offer insights into how isolation, confinement, weightlessness, and other space hazards affect human health and performance.
To glean these insights, data for this research includes measurements of activity and light exposure (gathered through a wrist sensor), sleep reports, fluid samples to examine diet and nutrition, saliva to measure the function of the immune system, cognition tests to examine brain function, and sensorimotor tests to investigate balance and inner ear function. It also incorporates findings from a total body strength test and fecal samples that allow researchers to better understand how microorganism composition changes in space.
Impact: This data, which is gathered before, during, and after a mission, will inform protocols designed to keep astronauts healthier as missions venture to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Type of study: Flight
Formal project title: Spaceflight Standard Measures
Top Risks Addressed
