Axiom Space private astronaut missions support breakthroughs in space, bringing benefits to every human, everywhere.
The changes to joint loading that occurs when humans enter microgravity can cause damage to their structure and function. This project will investigate the effects of short duration spaceflight on cartilage/tendon/ligament thickness, joint fluids, and blood flow via ultrasound evaluation of lower extremity joints before and after flight. The project aims to develop this method as a non-invasive assessment of cartilage and joint health that could optimize exercise protocols for future spaceflight crew and reduce injury upon returning to Earth."
Urinalysis in Space (Ax-1) performs urinalysis using an iPad and a proprietary kit on the Axiom 1 (Ax-1) private astronaut mission (PAM). The investigation focuses on a test commonly used to measure kidney function and provides immediate results, eliminating the need to return samples to Earth for analysis.
Algae have many properties that make them ideal organisms to support humans during long-duration spaceflight missions. Not only could they serve as a nutritional source included in astronaut menus, algae could also remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for spacecraft environmental control systems, help regulate spacecraft temperatures, recycle certain wastes, and even act as a source of fuel. The data generated from this experiment will be used to advance the development of microalgal life support systems for space missions and could impact the design of future carbon dioxide capture, oxygen conversion, wastewater treatment systems, and provide fertilizer options for other agricultural crops grown in space.
The VITAPRIC investigation will study plant germination, microgreen production, and leaf development in space. The project will investigate the impact of low selenium concentrations on the production of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and other nutrients by the plants, and aims to improve food production options for long-duration space missions. The results could also impact agricultural practices on Earth, particularly in resource-poor or urban farming environments.
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