Human Factors
Projects focused on understanding the physiological, psychological, and social challenges of living and working on Mars.
Monitoring the female body under semi-extreme conditions
by Mònica Roca i Aparici
Woman body and its reaction to extreme or semi-extreme conditions is not well understood. Studies on human factors have typically been based on man body. There is a lack of information and data regarding women behaviour under certain extreme conditions that astronauts have to face in their missions, and more in particular during the space walks or extra vehicular activities.
The MDRS is a perfect place to carry out this study and gather data from the Hypatia II crew 310, so that it can be analysed by Human Factor research centres such as the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) .
This study will be carried out during the MDRS crew 310 mission (Hypatia II), where the crew members will be wearing instrumentations such as a Garmin watch (provided by Garmin, https://www.garmin.com/en-US/), that will measure vital constants like heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, blood oxygen, etc., while performing the day to day activities and the extra vehicular activities, preferably being submitted to semi-extreme conditions. The data will be analysed by a ISGlobal Research Centre team, led by Dr. Juan Ramon González, as PI.
Martian Workouts: Study of the Effect of Nutrition and Physical Training on Muscle Mass Loss in Crew Members
by Helena Arias
This project evaluates muscle mass loss in the analog astronauts of Hypatia II during their mission at the MDRS. To mitigate muscle mass loss, the crew will follow a nutrition and physical training protocol both prior to and during the mission. Physiological parameters will be analyzed using smartwatches (Garmin) and biomarker analysis. Anthropometric measurements will be conducted at CAR Sant Cugat, while biomarkers will be analyzed by IS Global. Dietary plans will be personalized based on pre-mission evaluations and managed by Laia Miralles, a nutritionist from Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. Physical training plans will be validated by specialists from Fisiodeportiva. The goal is to evaluate, compare, and refine the protocols used to study muscle mass loss in similar space-like environments, contributing to the development of robust methodologies for future interplanetary missions.
The female cyclicity as a tool for self-consciousness
by Marina Martinez
The benefits of self-knowledge of the female cyclicity and how the hormonal cycle affects the physical body, behavior, emotional and mental states is powerful as it allows us to make better decisions and work more efficiently, being kind to our needs. While astronauts have usually been men in the past, and given that their bodies work differently, it is important for women to acknowledge and recognize repetition of sequences in behaviors each month. Self-awareness of the female cyclicity is crucial for decision making. The goal is to be conscious about whether we are in a good position for acting in extreme situations or situations that require high responsibility, recognize whether we are thinking with clarity or respond logically to specific situations, and/or work with others as a team, among others. This project proposes to do introspective work every day to find patterns among cycles (after a 3-month analysis) that will enable better outcomes during space missions and life in general.
In collaboration with AstroCup*. Women’s health in space is an understudied area of research. Many astronauts have had their menstruation hormonally suppressed during missions, which can last up to several months. In future longer missions (Moon and Mars colonisation), the lack of options for menstruation may increase inequality in access to space. In that regard, we will also test menstrual cups for astronauts to assess their use and evaluate different possibilities for cleaning, making their use zero residue.
*AstroCup is a team of scientists and engineers whose main goal is to provide a choice of menstruating medical devices for space missions contributing to equal access to space. So far, they have tested how menstrual cups resist a 3 km flight on a rocket.
Circadian rhythms in a Mars analog mission: a telemetric approach
by Carla Conejo
Existing literature provides evidence of significant sleep loss and disruption of circadian rhythms in astronauts, due to extended duty days, irregular work schedules, high workload, and other environmental factors, plus the fact that a Sol (a solar day on Mars) is slightly longer than an Earth day (approximately 24 hours and 37 minutes long). Both in space and in simulated conditions, sleep times and performance can be compromised triggering serious consequences on the effectiveness, health, and safety of astronaut crews, thus increasing the chances of an accident or incident. Therefore, successful adaptation to such missions will depend on being able to anticipate such alterations and develop countermeasures to manage them. The goal of this project is to investigate the circadian profile of sleep-wake and activity-rest cycles of the Hypatia I crew, using an actigraphy wearable device (Fitbit sense 2, granted by Google).
The collection of data will contribute to update the state of the art concerning neurophysiological disruptions during female-led space operations, since all previous experiments have been performed in male-dominant crews. This project counts with the collaboration of the Sleep Unit of the Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, who will complement the study with tests to further investigate the human limitations of space travel. Additionally, two other groups are also orbiting this research line on human factors to assess the levels of stress, recovery, cohesion and self-regulation strategies of the crew (in collaboration with the Relational Dynamics and Identity Processes Group at the University of Burgundy), and to visualize interactions between team members and map the crew’s social structure (in collaboration with Sociomapping).
Cognitive Health correlations: physiological and metabolic markers
by Lucia Matamoros
This study examines how isolated and confined environments (ICE) impact cognitive and physiological health, focusing on female astronauts during a 12-day Mars simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). The research aims to explore how including hormonal fluctuations linked to the menstrual cycle may affect the analytical study in correlating cognitive performance, physiological and psychological stress responses, and overall well-being. By analyzing data from wearable devices, surveys, and biomarker samples, the study aims to address gaps in understanding sex-specific health challenges in space missions.
The research goals are:
- Explore correlations between physiological, cognitive, and psychological markers in ICE conditions.
- Investigate the role of menstrual cycle fluctuations in shaping responses to stress and adaptation in extreme environments.
- Provide insights into sex-specific health considerations in space exploration.
- Contribute data to improve health monitoring practices for diverse astronaut populations.
Life on earth is such a good story you cannot afford to miss the beginning… Beneath our superficial differences we are all of us walking communities of bacteria. The world shimmers, a pointillist landscape made of tiny living beings. Life did not take over the world by combat, but by networking.
— Lynn Margulis, the biologist who articulated the endosymbiotic theory