Axiom Space private astronaut missions support breakthroughs in space, bringing benefits to every human, everywhere.
This portfolio of projects will look at how humans adapt and respond to spaceflight to better understand human physiology in microgravity, which will contribute to our understanding of how to keep humans healthy in space. Projects utilizing novel neuroscience tools include measuring blood flow to the brain and the brain’s electrical activity, assessing intracranial pressure by non-invasive assessment of the pupil of the eye, and monitoring changes in the optic nerve over time. Improved monitoring of neurological health may help make spaceflight safer in the future and allow for the development of rapid, non-invasive monitoring, as well as early interventions and the development of countermeasures. Blood and bio-sample specimens will also be taken to examine multi-omic biomarkers related to spaceflight and also to map changes in the length, structure, and epigenetics of chromosomes and telomeres.
In this experiment, a virtual reality (VR) headset system will be used to investigate the effect of microgravity on cognitive function and motor skills. Tasks to assess attention will be performed while a crewmember wears a cap that monitors neural activity (via functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS). Saliva and tear samples will be collected to investigate stress hormone and biological responses to spaceflight and demanding experimental cognitive tasks. This research adds to data exploring how space travel impacts human cognition and motor planning and execution.
Neurowellness in Space: A Technology Demonstration into the Viability of Long-term Monitoring of Brain Dynamics and Cognitive Function in Space Eco-Systems (Neurowellness in Space [Ax-1]) tests using a portable electroencephalography (EEG) headset to measure differences in brain activity in microgravity on members of the Axiom 1 (Ax-1) private astronaut mission (PAM). The device is easier to set up than previous systems and measures both ongoing and task-related brain activity. Data on microgravity-induced differences in cognitive performance could help predict neural changes on future long-term space missions.
The ORBGEO project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of geolocation using images captured in orbit. Images of Earth will be taken with onboard cameras and assessed for the accuracy of geolocation possible from the images. Factors like cloud cover, angle from which the image was taken, and other aerial effects will be examined. This research could help improve current Earth observation techniques and improve applications for Earth observation including environmental monitoring and disaster response.
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