Go4Launch

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zt3XkbiU9-WMnddl2xAIb0G2x3pXkew-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111949931852373519324&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1762S_RvTdrlqq43bNArCGHj60lg4LWieU_ovP-vwzYU/edit?usp=sharing

Challenge: to design a platform (digital or analog) that allows users to explore the environmental stresses of space travel, understand how diverse organisms deal with these stresses, and then build a “Space Biology Superhero” by combining features from these organisms.

Challenge goal: the main goal is to inform users about the challenges of spaceflight and how scientists are performing biological experimentation in space, as well as to excite users about space exploration and the biological research that will enable future missions.

Problem: the breadth of the risks associated with spaceflight and the prevention and countermeasure strategies to allow for safe human interplanetary travel are not completely understood.

Opportunity: the recent flourishing of the space industry, with focus on private and commercial enterprises, provides a unique opportunity for the commercialization of LEO. This will result in many human spaceflight missions and research that may boost our understanding of the risks of spaceflight. These missions will dramatically increase the demand of astronauts or humans conducting spaceflight operations. Therefore, it becomes important to create a way for potential spacefaring individuals to get excited about human spaceflight and motivate them to pursue this path, while informing and guiding them to achieve this goal.

Solution: The solution is an app that works as a simple assessment that analyzes how resistant a user is to the hazards of space travel and provides a spaceflight readiness score to various space destinations, specifically LEO, Moon, and Mars. It helps users understand the effects of each risk and will allow them to take this information from the digital realm and apply it in real life by providing recommendations and resources for people to improve their resilience and resistance to space hazards, taking them one step closer to space.

Objectives:

• To get more people interested in space exploration by showing them that they too can fly to space.
• To inform people about the different hazards of space travel and increase interest in space research.
• To offer recommendations and resources that help interested candidates become more resilient to possible space hazards

Workflow:

Input: a list of questions that users answer to evaluate the risks they may be prone to during spaceflight.

1. Are you feeling healthy today? This includes not showing any symptoms of a common cold and any underlying medical conditions being under control.
2. Do you consider yourself to be in good mental health?
3. Are you comfortable working as part of a diverse team including different personality styles, cultural backgrounds, and languages?
4. Have you lived and/or worked outside your home country?
5. Do you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night?
6. Can you make decisions with valid reasoning while being in a stressful environment?
7. Do you have experience in leadership?
8. What is your blood pressure? This should be taken in a seated position.
9. Are you a certified SCUBA diver with an organization? E.g. PADI, CMAS, SSI, BSAC, etc
10. Are you comfortable operating and maintaining systems and/or machinery?
11. Do you have 20/20 vision or can your vision be corrected to 20/20 in each eye? If you wear glasses or contact lenses that correct your vision to 20/20 answer yes.
12. Can you swim 3 lengths of a 25m pool without stopping and then tread water continuously for 10 minutes?
13. Are you comfortable on roller coasters?
14. Do you get car and/or sea sick easily?
15. Have you participated in a mission in an extreme environment that requires risk management? Extreme environments include desert, jungle, pole, marine, alpine, etc.

Variables: each of the previous questions will assess how the person is susceptible to one or more of the following major risk categories and assign a value.

1.   Risks:

a.   Radiation

b.   Isolation and confinement

c.   Distance from Earth

d.   Gravity fields

e.   Hostile/Closed environments

2.   Destinations:

a.   Lower Earth Orbit (LEO)

b.   Moon mission

c.   Mars mission

Data: we used the likelihood and consequence rating from NASA’s Human Research Roadmap to create the weighting for each risk category depending on the destinations. See figure.

Analysis: we created a preliminary calculation matrix in excel that will calculate the user’s inverse risk rating or readiness score for each destination (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zt3XkbiU9-WMnddl2xAIb0G2x3pXkew-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111949931852373519324&rtpof=true&sd=true).

Output:

1.   Readiness score: one per destination that will measure how a user can withstand the hazards of space travel relevant to that particular destination and allow them to compare between different users.

2.   Go for Launch mark: if the readiness score for a destination is above a certain threshold, the user will receive a “Go for Launch” mark determining that they are cleared for that destination.

3.   Recommendations: depending on each user’s answers and readiness score, the app will provide recommendations to improve a user’s skills or capabilities to endure the risks and their effects.

4.   Resources: the app offers different opportunities for users to sign up to that will also improve their risk-tolerance capabilities like courses, expedition opportunities or analog missions.

5.   Information: each risk will include relevant information about its effects and countermeasures from NASA’s Human Research Roadmap and other relevant scientific publications.

Future Plans:

We want to establish partnerships with training courses and facilities that we can offer our users through our app. Similarly, we want to look into expedition opportunities and analog missions that our users can sign up to for further training experiences.

The data about the specific effects of each of the risks and how they can be classified in 5 different categories provided the main inspiration and much of the content that we used. The likelihood and consequence rating was very valuable to calculate the weight a particular risk would signify to an astronaut depending on the chosen destination. We decided to focus on long term missions and surface destinations on deeper space as opposed to orbital or preparation missions (Moon and Mars). These are the risks that we chose to focus in this first version. More risks to be included later.

Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders

Risk of Adverse Health and Performance Effects of Celestial Dust Exposure

Risk of Adverse Health Effects Due to Host-Microorganism Interactions

Risk of Adverse Health Event Due to Altered Immune Response

Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes and Decrements in Performance Due to Medical Conditions that occur in Mission, as well as Long Term Health Outcomes Due to Mission Exposures

Risk of Adverse Outcomes Due to Inadequate Human Systems Integration Architecture

Risk of Altered Sensorimotor/Vestibular Function Impacting Critical Mission Tasks

Risk of Bone Fracture due to Spaceflight-induced Changes to Bone

Risk of Impaired Performance Due to Reduced Muscle Size, Strength and Endurance

Risk of Performance Decrements and Adverse Health Outcomes Resulting from Sleep Loss, Circadian Desynchronization, and Work Overload

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

We are a group of people coming from different backgrounds that met during the recent ESA astronaut selection because we all want to become astronauts. We saw that the interest in human spaceflight is increasing significantly with more than 23,000 applicants for only 6 spots. We strongly believe that with the growing space industry, there will always be space for one more (maybe 23,000 more?). We want to help people train to become astronauts, since in the future, the space agencies are not going to be the only ones providing the humans conducting all space operations, private astronauts will enter the scene. If we get more and more people interested and trained, the research needed for deeper human space exploration will receive a dramatic boost. We realize that many of the risks that exist can be prevented by careful selection of astronaut candidates and that is why providing a guide to how to improve in key areas would not only increase the chances of selection but also reduce the effect of space hazards. We hope that our app is the starting point for many future astronauts as they embark on their journeys to space.

Adobe XD

Google Documents

Google Drive

Google Sheets

Blush https://blush.design/

Pixabay https://pixabay.com/ 

NASA Human Research Roadmap https://humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov/Risks/

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/11/03/astronauts-enter-quarantine-for-upcoming-crew-1-mission/

https://www.space.com/what-is-quarantine-like-for-astronauts-coronavirus.html

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

https://www.nasa.gov/content/behavioral-health

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

https://www.nasa.gov/careers/diversity

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/visitors-to-the-station-by-country/

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/frequently-asked-questions-0/

https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astronaut_Selection/Astronaut_selection_2021-22_FAQs

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_sleeping

https://www.nasa.gov/content/dont-stress-the-small-stuff-nasa-1ym-research-helps-combat-stress-and-fatigue

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Minerva/ESA_astronaut_Samantha_Cristoforetti_becomes_first_European_female_ISS_commander#:~:text=ESA%20astronaut%20Samantha%20Cristoforetti%20will,67%20crew%20member%20Oleg%20Artemyev.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/what-is-blood-pressure/#:~:text=As%20a%20general%20guide%3A,be%2090%2F60mmHg%20or%20lower

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace

https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/media/bpuk/docs/TESTING-GUIDELINES_2020_web.pdf

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2018/ps_6.html

https://www.nasa.gov/mediacast/the-astronaut-training-pool

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_working

https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2015/17nov_spacevision

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/606877main_FS-2011-11-057-JSC-astro_trng.pdf

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/benefits/bone_loss.html

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2018/ps_6.html

https://www.nasa.gov/analogs/parabolic-flight

https://www.space.com/zero-gravity-corp-nasa-weightless-research-flights.html

https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/preparingtravel/kc135onfinal.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/030698779090108Q

https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast07aug_1#:~:text=%22Space%20sickness%20relieves%20itself%20after,their%20mission%2C%22%20Schneider%20says

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-astronauts-train-deep-undersea-for-deep-space-missions

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35254508

https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/communications/#:~:text=Ultra%2DHigh%20Frequency%20Antenna,-Most%20often%2C%20Mars&text=It%20generally%20takes%20about%205,Earth%2C%20depending%20on%20planet%20positions

Acharya MM, Baulch JE, Klein PM,et al.New concerns for neurocognitive function during deep space exposures to chronic, low dose-rate, neutron radiation [published correction appears in eNeuro. 2019 Oct 18;6(5):].eNeuro.2019;6(4):ENEURO.0094-19.2019. doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0094-19.2019.

Parihar VK, Allen BD, Caressi C,et al.Cosmic radiation exposure and persistent cognitive dysfunction.Sci Rep.2016;6:34774. doi:10.1038/srep34774.

Fuglesang, C., Narici, L., Picozza, P., & Sannita, W. G. (2006). Phosphenes in low earth orbit: survey responses from 59 astronauts. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 77(4), 449–452

Demertzi, A., Van Ombergen, A., Tomilovskaya, E., Jeurissen, B., Pechenkova, E., Di Perri, C., Litvinova, L., Amico, E., Rumshiskaya, A., Rukavishnikov, I., Sijbers, J., Sinitsyn, V., Kozlovskaya, I. B., Sunaert, S., Parizel, P. M., Van de Heyning, P. H., Laureys, S., & Wuyts, F. L. (2016). Cortical reorganization in an astronaut's brain after long-duration spaceflight. Brain Structure & Function, 221(5), 2873–2876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1054-3

Kandarpa K, Schneider V, Ganapathy K. Human health during space travel:an overview.Neurol India.2019;67:S176–S181. doi:10.4103/0028-3886.259123.

Peldszus R, Dalke H, Pretlove S,et al.The perfect boring situation—addressing the experience of monotony during crewed deep space missions through habitability design.Acta Astronaut.2014;94(1):262–276. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.04.024.

Winisdoerffer, F., & Soulez-Larivière, C. (1992). Habitability constraints/objectives for a Mars manned mission: Internal architecture considerations. Advances in Space Research: The Official Journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), 12(1), 315–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/0273-1177(92)90299-d

Sipes WE, Polk JD, Beven G,et al.Behavioral health and performance. In:Nicogossian AE, Williams RS, Huntoon CL,et al., eds.Space Physiology andMedicine. 4th ed. New York, NY: Springer; 2016:367–389.

Kanas N. Psychosocial value of space simulation for extended spaceflight.Adv Space Biol Med.1997;6:81–91. doi:10.1016/s1569-2574(08)60078-7.

Gushin VI, Kholin SF, Ivanovsky YR. Soviet psychophysiological investi-gations of simulated isolation: some results and prospects.Adv Space BiolMed.1993;3:5–14. doi:10.1016/s1569-2574(08)60093-3.

Tafforin C, Vinokhodova A, Chekalina A,et al.Correlation of etho-social and psycho-social data from“Mars-500”interplanetary simulation.ActaAstronaut.2015;111:19–28

Palinkas LA, Gunderson EK, Johnson JC,et al.Behavior and performance on long-duration spaceflights: evidence from analogue environments [pub-lished correction appears in Aviat Space Environ Med. 2002 Sep;73(9):940].Aviat Space Environ Med.2000;71(Suppl 9):A29–A36.

Moore, S. T., Dilda, V., Morris, T. R., Yungher, D. A., MacDougall, H. G., & Wood, S. J. (2019). Long-duration spaceflight adversely affects post-landing operator proficiency. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 2677. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39058-9

Musso, G., Ferraris, S., Fenoglio, F., Zafarana, A., Salatino, A., & Ricci, R. (2018). Habitability issues in long duration space missions far from earth. In N. A. Stanton (Ed.), Advances in human aspects of transportation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60441-1_15

Caddick, Z. A., Gregory, K., Flynn-Evans, E. E. (2017). Sleep environment recommendations for future spaceflight vehicles. In N. A. Stanton, S. Landry, G. Di Bucchianico, & A. Vallicelli (Eds.), Advances in human aspects of transportation (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 484). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41682-3_76

Stein TP, Gaprindashvili T. Spaceflight and protein metabo-lism, with special reference to humans. Am J Clin Nut. 1994;60(5):806s-s819.

Tanaka K, Nishimura N, Kawai Y. Adaptation to micrograv-ity, deconditioning, and countermeasures. J Physiol Sci JPS. 2017;67(2):271–81.    

LeBlanc AD, Spector ER, Evans HJ, Sibonga JD. Skeletal responses to space flight and the bed rest analog: a review. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2007;7(1):33–47.    

Narici MV, de Boer MD. Disuse of the musculo-skeletal system in space and on earth. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011;111(3):403–20

Comfort, P., McMahon, J. J., Jones, P. A., Cuthbert, M., Kendall, K., Lake, J. P., & Haff, G. G. (2021). Effects of Spaceflight on Musculoskeletal Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, Considerations for Interplanetary Travel. Sports Medicine, 51(10), 2097–2114. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40279-021-01496-9/FIGURES/7

Man, J., Graham, T., Squires-Donelly, G., & Laslett, A. L. (2022). The effects of microgravity on bone structure and function. Npj Microgravity 2022 8:1, 8(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-022-00194-8

#astronaut #training #spaceflight #hazards #travel #LEO #superhero #readiness #score #Moon #Mars