Axiom Space private astronaut missions support breakthroughs in space, bringing benefits to every human, everywhere.
The Microfluidic Drug DosageDetection Development (M4D) experiment aims to understand better how liquids behave in "lab on a chip" microfluidics devices in space. The overall goal is to eventually design and manufacture microfluidic devices that can analyze drug stability and quality on long-duration and deep space missions. The experiment will inject liquidi nto the microfluidic device and analyze fluid flow characteristics. Additionally, the study will examine the impact of spaceflight and radiation exposure on a commonly used drug (Tylenol).
Using a human cancer stem cell nanobioreactor model (a vessel that accelerates cell growth conditions) and cancer stem cell reporter system, this investigation will leverage the accelerated aging aspects of the microgravity environment to evaluate early pre-cancer and cancer changes in tumor organoids. This cellular biology project is focused on identifying biomarkers for early detection and supports future aims of cancer stem cell research on the ISS. The Ax-1 crew will study cell samples under a high-resolution microscope to determine cell cycle activity in cancer growth.
This project from the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) and ESA is to monitor and assess the health and adaptation of astronauts' soft tissues during space missions. Before and after flight, crew will undergo soft tissue assessments to measure changes in muscle mass, tendon properties, and flexibility. The study will examine the impact of microgravity on structural and metabolic changes in soft tissues and could help with the development of crew health measure on long duration missions, or lead to improved soft tissue disorder treatments on Earth.
Elevated stress can affect essential functions controlled by the central nervous system (CNS) such as memory, ability to concentrate, sleep, and fine-motor skills. Evaluating Stress Levels Among Space Travelers by Monitoring Changes In Their Central Nervous System Functions [Monitoring Stress (Ax-1)] on the Axiom-1 (Ax-1) private astronaut mission (PAM) examines whether the development of emotional distress can be detected by continuous monitoring of basic CNS functions. Results could support development of tools for early intervention to help maintain the well-being and performance of crew members on future long-duration missions. The work also could have applications for hospitalized or quarantined individuals on Earth.
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