NASA is set to gain valuable insights from experiments conducted during the Polaris Dawn mission, a fully-commercial human spaceflight initiative that launched today on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft powered by a Falcon 9 rocket.
The Polaris Dawn crew, consisting of Jared Isaacman, Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon, will engage in scientific research focused on health and human performance as part of NASA’s Human Research Program. This research aims to enhance understanding of how the space environment impacts the human body, aiding in the preparation for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The crew plans to evaluate new medical technologies, investigate space motion sickness, and analyze risks related to injuries in flight.
“Every mission, irrespective of whether the crew is made up of commercial or NASA astronauts, offers a vital opportunity to increase our understanding of spaceflight’s impact on human health,” stated Jancy McPhee, associate chief scientist for human research at NASA. “Data collected from Polaris Dawn will provide crucial insights to support NASA’s planning for longer space missions to the Moon and Mars.”
Among the experiments, the crew will pilot a commercial device that gathers and integrates various health metrics including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature. This technology also features ultrasound imaging and video capabilities focused on the larynx and throat, along with a telemedicine function designed to facilitate real-time diagnoses.
Crew members will assess the device’s performance by comparing its health metrics against standard health evaluations, while also conducting simulations to test the telemedicine feature in collaboration with Earth-based medical professionals using SpaceX’s Starlink communications system.
“Long-duration missions will require crew members to be increasingly self-sufficient, and we believe telemedicine can offer support,” McPhee added.
Additionally, the mission will investigate motion sickness, a common issue faced by astronauts. Crew members will document their symptoms and the effectiveness of various measures they employ to alleviate discomfort.
After the mission, a separate NASA study will survey crew members regarding any injuries or discomfort experienced during their re-entry.
“Our team will integrate crew survey data with information from spacecraft sensors to connect reported experiences and health outcomes with the dynamics and forces of landing,” noted Preston Greenhalgh, a NASA injury biomechanist leading the study.
The Polaris Dawn crew will also contribute to multiple health studies managed by the NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Health (TRISH), a consortium involving several academic institutions. This mission aims to establish a new standard for health data collection in commercial spaceflights, complementing existing datasets from NASA astronauts.
Participating in TRISH studies, crew members will undergo comprehensive medical assessments before, during, and after the mission to explore the effects of spaceflight on both mental and physical health. This will include evaluations of behavior, sleep patterns, bone density, eye health, cognitive abilities, and detailed analyses of blood, urine, and respiration.
“We are immensely thankful to the volunteers who contribute to NASA’s efforts. The knowledge gained from these studies could lead to breakthroughs that enhance the success of future missions,” McPhee remarked.
NASA’s Human Research Program is dedicated to identifying effective methods and technologies to ensure safe and productive human space travel. Research conducted in various settings, including laboratories, analogs on Earth, commercial missions, and the International Space Station, examines how spaceflight impacts human health and behavior, informing innovations that keep astronauts healthy and ready for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.