NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission: Pioneering Research for Astronaut Health on Long-Duration Missions
In an exciting development for space exploration, NASA’s upcoming SpaceX Crew-10 mission, scheduled for March, is set to conduct groundbreaking research on astronaut health during long-duration spaceflights. The mission involves a four-member crew who will engage in a variety of exercise and medical studies aimed at maintaining the well-being of astronauts on future deep-space missions.
The International Space Station (ISS) is equipped with an array of exercise equipment, including a weight-lifting system, a stationary bike, and a unique treadmill known as the T2. These tools are crucial in maintaining the physical health and performance of astronauts in the microgravity environment of space and upon their return to Earth. However, as NASA sets its sights on exploring beyond low Earth orbit, the agency anticipates that future spacecraft may not have the capacity for bulky exercise gear like treadmills.
Addressing the Challenge of Space Exercise Equipment
Walking and running are integral components of exercise routines aboard the ISS, yet NASA does not fully comprehend the implications of omitting a treadmill from long-duration spaceflights. To address this knowledge gap, NASA researchers are modifying astronauts’ training programs. In some cases, they are removing the treadmill altogether to explore alternative methods of maintaining astronauts’ strength, fitness, bone health, and balance.
An ongoing study, aptly named Zero T2, involves dividing expedition crews into three distinct workout groups. One group continues with the traditional exercise regimen, utilizing all available equipment on the ISS. A second group forgoes the treadmill, relying solely on the remaining exercise apparatus. The third group uses an innovative, less bulky workout machine. NASA meticulously compares health data collected from these groups before, during, and after their spaceflights to assess the impact of treadmill-free workouts on fitness, muscle performance, and recovery upon returning to Earth.
Insights from NASA Astronauts and the Zero T2 Experiment
"A treadmill takes up a lot of mass, space, and energy. This is not great for missions to Mars where every kilogram counts," explained NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, who participated in the Zero T2 study while commanding NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission in 2024. "The Zero T2 experiment is helping us figure out if we can go without a treadmill and still be healthy."
The findings from the Zero T2 study will be instrumental in shaping exercise protocols for future deep-space missions. This research not only informs NASA’s understanding of exercise requirements in space but also has potential applications on Earth, where it could lead to improvements in exercise equipment designed to prevent or treat bone, muscle, and cardiovascular issues.
Beyond Zero T2: The Human Research Program
In addition to the Zero T2 study, select NASA crew members will engage in other studies supported by NASA’s Human Research Program during their mission. These studies involve conducting medical exams, providing biological samples, and documenting spaceflight-related injuries.
"Astronauts choose which studies to participate in based on their interests," explained Cherie Oubre, a NASA scientist at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. "The experiments address important risks and gaps associated with human spaceflight."
The CIPHER Experiment: A Comprehensive Study of Human Adaptation
One notable study is called CIPHER (Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research), which aims to understand how various systems within the human body adapt to different mission durations. Participants in the CIPHER study will undergo vision assessments, cognitive tests, and MRI scans to gain a comprehensive understanding of how long-duration spaceflight affects the entire body.
"The CIPHER experiment tracks changes in the eyes, bones, heart, muscles, immune system, and more," Oubre noted. "The investigation provides the most comprehensive overview of how long-duration spaceflight affects the entire human body ever conducted, helping us advance human expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere."
Spaceflight Standard Measures and the Omics Archive
Some crew members will also contribute to a core set of measurements known as Spaceflight Standard Measures. These measurements help researchers understand how the human body and mind adapt to space travel over time and serve as a foundation for other spaceflight studies like CIPHER. Additionally, astronauts may provide biological samples for the Omics Archive, a separate study analyzing how the body reacts to long-duration spaceflight at the molecular level.
Investigating Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome
Another critical area of research involves testing potential treatments for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition linked to brain changes and swelling at the back of the eye. Although researchers are uncertain about the causes of SANS, they suspect that fluid shifts toward the head in microgravity may contribute to the syndrome. Genetic factors affecting how the body processes B vitamins could also play a role.
Participating crew members will test whether a daily B vitamin supplement can alleviate or prevent the development of SANS symptoms. They will also investigate if wearing cuffs on their thighs to retain fluids in the legs could be an effective intervention.
Post-Mission Studies and the Human Research Program
Upon returning to Earth, select crew members will complete surveys recording any discomfort or injuries associated with landing, such as scrapes and bruises. These surveys, combined with data from sensors in the spacecraft, will help researchers catalog injuries and improve spacecraft design.
Astronauts began participating in these studies approximately a year before their mission, providing baseline health data and familiarizing themselves with the research. They will continue to contribute data to these experiments for up to two years after returning home.
Conclusion: Advancing Human Space Exploration
NASA’s Human Research Program is dedicated to finding the best methods and technologies to support safe and productive human space travel. Through extensive research conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, and the ISS, the program examines how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors. This research is crucial as NASA seeks to innovate ways to keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as human space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
For further information on NASA’s ongoing research and missions, visit NASA’s Human Research Program.
In the microgravity environment of space, astronauts aboard the International Space Station typically engage in two hours of exercise each day. From running and cycling to weightlifting, they maintain their fitness regimens to stay healthy—even amidst the challenges posed by microgravity. This commitment to health and fitness is essential for the success of long-duration space missions and the well-being of astronauts as they venture further into the cosmos (Credit: NASA).
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