Judith L. Robinson, Ph.D.Associate Director

Space Life Sciences DirectorateJohnson Space CenterHouston, Texas USA

Judith L. Robinson, Ph.D.Associate Director

Space Life Sciences DirectorateJohnson Space CenterHouston, Texas USA

Building Partnerships In Support of

Space Exploration

Building Partnerships In Support of

Space Exploration

Background Background

National Vision for Space Exploration

National Vision for Space Exploration

National Vision for Space Exploration

Implement a sustained and affordable human and robotic program to explore the solar system and beyond

Extend human presence across the solar system, starting with a human return to the Moon by the year 2020, in preparation for human exploration of Mars and other destinations;

Develop the innovative technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures both to explore and to support decisions about the destinations for human exploration; and

Promote international and commercial participation in exploration to further U.S. scientific, security, and economic interests.

THE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THIS VISION IS TO ADVANCE U.S. SCIENTIFIC, SECURITY, AND ECONOMIC INTEREST THROUGH A ROBUST

SPACE EXPLORATION PROGRAM

Lifts the national spirit• The spirit of discovery – a part of the fabric of our nation• In every field of human endeavor, leaders do what others regard as impossible• Pushing the limits of human understanding – our origins, life beyond Earth,

human survival on other worlds

Improves the quality of life on Earth• Space exploration delivers enormous benefits – advances in medicine, weather

forecasting, communications, computers, materials, etc..• Space exploration has led to unprecedented advances in public safety and

environmental, economic, and national security• The next phase of exploration will have even more of an impact – driving

breakthroughs in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology

Inspires future generations• Exploration of the solar system and beyond will be guided by compelling

questions of scientific and societal importance• Exploration requires the best ideas, talents, and skills of our nation• Inspires our youth to challenging pursuits; allowing them to boldly dream• Lifts our capabilities as a nation to new heights

Maintain A Nation of ExplorersIt’s about destiny, not destination

Realizing the FutureEarth, Moon, Mars, and Beyond

Foster and sustain the exploration culture across generations• Compelling missions that continually open new frontiers• A shared journey, inspiring present and future generations• A constant impetus to educate and train the workforce to realize these

bold exploration goals

Identify, develop, and apply advanced technologies to…• Travel to distant worlds• Enable exploration and discovery• Encompass humans and robots in pursuit of compelling destinations• Involve the public in the excitement of exploration and discoveries• Translate the benefits of these technologies to improve life on Earth

Harness the brain power• Engage the nation’s science and engineering talent• Motivate successive generations of students to pursue science, math,

engineering and technology• Create the tools to facilitate broad national technical participation

Establishing Robust Partnerships• Expand cooperation and collaboration with

– government agencies– academia– industry

• Facilitate innovative opportunities for commercial & academic participation • Establish international partnerships to achieve exploration goalsObjectives of Partnerships • Achieve success re: technological challenges

– Build spaceships to send robotic and human explorers into deep space– Protect astronauts from the hazards of space flight – Sustain human life on other worlds – Optimize human and robotic partnerships in both engineering and science – Design and build safe and efficient power and propulsion

• Create the right skill mix• Attract and train the workforce – inspire, engage, and educate a diverse next

generation of explorers

Partnerships to Achieve NASA’s Next Steps

Low Earth Orbit• Known medical risks• Communications• Access to Earth• Minimum autonomy

Moon (Short duration)•Mostly known medical risks•Communications•2-3 day to access Earth facilities•Greater autonomy necessary

Mars• Many medical risks (known, unknown, unanticipated)• Communications difficult• Probably no access to Earth facilities• Autonomous medical care absolutely required

Moon (Long duration)• Many known medical risks, others unknown but anticipated• Communication• 2-3 day to access Earth facilities• Greater autonomy necessary

International Space Station

International Space Station

Biomedical Research on ISS

Objectives of ISS Life Sciences– Predictions of astronaut health and safety risks – Diagnostics of health status – Management of medical and behavioral problems – Establishment of human physiologic norms for

spaceflight – Protection of the astronaut from the physical and

physiologic effects of space flight – Rehabilitation of crewmembers after space flight

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/science/life/biomedical.html

Return to the Moon…to reduce risks for Mars

Return to the Moon…to reduce risks for Mars

At first, just stay for up to 7 days…At first, just stay for up to 7 days…

1969

2017?2017?••Demonstrate Demonstrate basic basic capabilitiescapabilities

••Evaluate life Evaluate life support support systems in systems in planetary planetary surface surface environmentenvironment

••Investigate Investigate available available resourcesresources

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/main/index.html

Then, for up to 6 months at a time

Then, for up Then, for up to 6 months to 6 months at a timeat a time

•• Demonstrate Demonstrate candidate candidate habitation habitation capabilities in capabilities in planetary surface planetary surface environmentenvironment

•• Investigate Investigate human responses human responses to altered to altered environment environment (gravity, (gravity, light/dark)light/dark)

•• Proximity to Earth Proximity to Earth for safetyfor safety

• Important operational concepts from lunar outpost crew missions:– Crew autonomy– Crew teleoperation of robotic exploration systems

• Important systems technologies to be demonstrated on the Moon:– Long-lived power generation– Next generation propulsion systems– Regenerative life support– Teleoperated robotic systems– EVA systems (suits and roving vehicles)– Geoscience and bioscience analytical equipment– Medical and telemedicine equipment, dust mitigation and planetary

protection equipment– ISRU mining and storage/distribution systems

What can we learn on Moon to reduce risks for Mars?

What can we learn on Moon to reduce risks for Mars?

Biomedical Considerations

Biomedical Considerations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 161

7

13

19

25

31

37

43

49

55

61

67

73

79

85

91

97

103

109

Space Flight Experience (continuous)Space Flight Experience (continuous)

Flights longer than 28 days (May 1973 - June 2002)Flights longer than 28 days (May 1973 - June 2002)

Flight Duration (months)

Num

ber o

f Exp

osur

es Most longMost long--duration flights duration flights are 4are 4--6 months long6 months long

Mars missions may last Mars missions may last up to 30 monthsup to 30 months

30

Human Responses to Weightlessness

Changes in Body

Functions in 0g

Cellular Responses to Microgravity

1 G μ G

Change in fluid distributiongene expressionsignal transductionlocomotiondifferentiation

Bone Loss

Causes of Bone Loss• No load because of low gravity• Poor muscle performance• Metabolic and hormonal changes• Fluid dynamic changes in the bone

marrow sinusoids– Decreased hydrodynamic

shear– Loss of hydrostatic pressure

gradient

1 G μ G

Current Countermeasures• Resistive Exercise• Loading• Nutrition• Pharmaceuticals

e.g. Bisphosphonates

Muscle

• Disuse Atrophy– Unusual uses of selected muscle groups – Most locomotion achieved with the upper

body• No load• No position based use and

deployment of muscle activity as in 1G environment

• Current Countermeasures– Exercise, exercise, exercise!

• Before, during, and after the mission

125 days125 days

162 days162 days

Crew Recovery Status: Mir & ISS

Observed post-landing capabilities of Mir & ISS crewmembers may be predictive for just-arrived Mars crewmembers.

1 year1 year

Crew Recovery Status:Skylab

28 days28 days

84 days84 days59 days59 days

Clinical Needs • Expected illnesses and problems– Orthopedic and musculoskeletal problems (esp. in hypogravity)– Infectious, hematological, and immune-related diseases– Dermatological, ophthalmologic, and ENT problems

• Acute medical emergencies– Wounds, lacerations, and burns– Toxic exposure and acute anaphylaxis– Acute radiation illness–Development and treatment of decompression sickness– Dental, ophthalmologic, and psychiatric

• Chronic diseases– Radiation-induced problems– Responses to dust exposure– Presentation or acutemanifestation of nascent illness

Medical care systems for Medical care systems for prevention, diagnosis or prevention, diagnosis or treatmenttreatment

–– Difficulty of rehabilitation Difficulty of rehabilitation following landingfollowing landing

–– Trauma and acute medical Trauma and acute medical problemsproblems

–– Illness and ambulatory Illness and ambulatory health problemshealth problems

–– Altered pharmacodynamics Altered pharmacodynamics and adverse drug reactionand adverse drug reaction

Autonomous Clinical Care

TelemedicineTelemedicinepreventive health care preventive health care diagnostic/therapeutic capabilities from grounddiagnostic/therapeutic capabilities from ground--based consultantsbased consultants

Crew Health Care Facilitynon-invasive diagnostic capabilities

for medical/surgical care“smart” systems

non-invasive imaging systems

definitive surgical therapy including robotic surgical assist devices and

surgical simulators

blood replacement therapy

laboratory support

Human Behavior & Performance

Issues:• Small group size• Multi-cultural

composition• Extended duration• Remote location• High autonomy• High risk• High visibility

Research in Behavior Research in Behavior and Performanceand Performance

•• Sleep and circadian Sleep and circadian rhythm problemsrhythm problems

•• Poor psychosocial Poor psychosocial adaptationadaptation

•• Neurobehavioral Neurobehavioral dysfunctiondysfunction

•• HumanHuman--robotic interfacerobotic interface

Crew Autonomyon Mars

Health care•Radiation Protection•Medical & Surgical care•Nutrition - Food Supply•Psychological support

Habitat•Maintenance & housekeeping•Exercise•Recreation•Privacy

ConclusionsConclusions

ConclusionsThe human element is the most complex The human element is the most complex element of the mission designelement of the mission design

Mars, Moon and other missions will pose Mars, Moon and other missions will pose significant physiological and psychological significant physiological and psychological challenges to crew memberschallenges to crew members

Human engineering, human robotic/machine Human engineering, human robotic/machine interface, and life support issues are criticalinterface, and life support issues are critical

Issues that Issues that maymay be showbe show--stoppers (bone loss, stoppers (bone loss, radiation), must be addresses. radiation), must be addresses.

ISS ISS mustmust be used to validate countermeasures before any be used to validate countermeasures before any ““Go/No GoGo/No Go”” commitmentcommitment

Partnerships are required to accomplish groundPartnerships are required to accomplish ground--based and based and specialized flight research, as well as the development of specialized flight research, as well as the development of required technologies to meet exploration objectivesrequired technologies to meet exploration objectives