Key Highlights :
     Space exploration has been a source of fascination for centuries. From the very first steps taken by the Apollo 11 crew to the recent landing of the Perseverance rover on Mars, humanity has continued to push the boundaries of space exploration. But before we can send people to these dangerous environments, the partner space agencies must know how to keep them safe. That’s why researchers from the UK’s University of Birmingham are working on the Bio-SPHERE (Biomedical Sub-surface Pod for Habitability and Extreme-environments Research in Expeditions) program in new laboratories being established around 0.7 miles underground in one of the UK’s deepest mines.
     The Bio-SPHERE project is focused on astronaut health, a cornerstone of a successful mission to Mars. The lab is testing 3D printing and other futuristic tech for medical care on future Mars missions. These include complex fluids, polymers, and hydrogels for regenerative medicine that could be used in wound dressings or as fillers for damage mitigation. The lab is also looking into the effects of reduced gravity on the human body and how to protect astronauts from radiation.
     The Artemis Program has a different objective than Apollo. Landings will be short duration at first, but eventually, Artemis’ goal is to establish a longer-term presence, including humans and robots. Any mission to Mars will be about three years long. It takes seven months to get there, then about 26 months for Mars and Earth to be close enough together for the return trip, then another seven months to get home. Planning for medical interventions during the seven-month visit is a critical piece of the mission. The medical interventions need to have some autonomous functions, and the goal has to be to get astronauts back to work.
     One pronounced danger facing humans in long-duration spaceflight is reduced gravity. There’s no simple solution to that. While a barrier of some sort can protect astronauts from radiation, reduced gravity is a more persistent threat. And reduced gravity causes problems for the human body. In their paper, the researchers point out the specific threat posed by reduced gravity. Specific parts of the body have evolved to support our weight, and in lower gravity, there’s less mechanical force on them. These parts include the hips, femoral head, and lower back vertebrae. As time goes on, lower gravity creates a loss in bone minerals like calcium and phosphate in these regions. This leads to bone fragility, a problem for astronauts with important missions to fulfill.
     Bio-SPHERE is also looking into regenerative technologies that could be used to treat tissue damage. These include stem cell therapies, tissue engineering, organs on chips, and biomanufacturing or bioprinting. These technologies need further development, and that’s what’s at the heart of the first Bio-SPHERE laboratory.
     The Bio-SPHERE project is an important step in preparing for long-duration space exploration. By testing 3D printing and other futuristic tech for medical care on future Mars missions, researchers are ensuring that astronauts will be able to stay safe and healthy during their time in space. With the help of Bio-SPHERE, astronauts will be able to stay safe and healthy during their time in space, and humanity will be able to move one step closer to the future of space exploration.