NASA is preparing to send small devices containing living human cells from the Artemis II astronauts into deep space. This mission, part of the AVATAR investigation, aims to understand how the human body reacts to the harsh environment beyond Earth's protective magnetic field. The findings will be crucial for developing personalized medical treatments to ensure crew safety on future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
Key Takeaways
- NASA's AVATAR investigation will send "organ-on-a-chip" devices with Artemis II astronaut cells on a 10-day mission around the Moon.
- The primary goal is to study the effects of deep space radiation and microgravity on human biology at the cellular level.
- The first tissue being studied is bone marrow, which is highly sensitive to radiation and vital for immune function.
- Data from the mission will help create personalized medical kits tailored to each astronaut's specific biological needs.
A New Method for Space Medicine
As humanity prepares for extended stays on the Moon and eventual journeys to Mars, protecting astronaut health is a top priority. The AVATAR (Autonomous Vascular, Adipose, and TissuE-chip Research) investigation represents a significant step forward in space medicine. Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, NASA will proactively study biological changes in real time.
During the approximately 10-day Artemis II mission, the Orion spacecraft will carry miniature laboratories known as organ chips. These devices, each about the size of a thumb drive, will house living cells donated by the mission's astronauts. This allows for a direct comparison between how the same person's cells behave in deep space versus on Earth.
"AVATAR is NASA’s visionary tissue chip experiment that will revolutionize the very way we will do science, medicine, and human multi-planetary exploration," said Nicky Fox of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Understanding Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
An organ-on-a-chip is a microfluidic device that contains human cells arranged to mimic the structure and function of a specific human tissue or organ. Researchers on Earth already use these chips to test the effects of drugs and radiation on tissues like the lung, liver, and heart, providing a more accurate model than traditional methods.
Focus on Bone Marrow
The AVATAR team is initially focusing on bone marrow. This tissue is responsible for producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are essential for oxygen transport and immune response. Bone marrow is also one of the tissues most sensitive to radiation exposure.
Previous research has shown that microgravity can alter bone structure and the environment within the marrow that supports blood-forming stem cells. Such changes could compromise an astronaut's immune system, a significant risk on a mission far from medical facilities. By studying these effects directly, NASA can better plan for crew safety.
Why Deep Space is Different
Earth's magnetosphere acts as a natural shield, deflecting a large portion of harmful cosmic radiation. Once a spacecraft like Orion travels to lunar distances, it is exposed to higher levels of galactic cosmic rays and solar particles. The AVATAR chips will provide the first direct biological data on how human cells respond to this specific deep space environment.
The Mission and Data Analysis
For the Artemis II mission, the organ chips will contain blood-forming stem and progenitor cells from the astronauts. These cells will be grown into bone marrow tissue directly on the devices, creating personalized biological models for each crew member.
The chips will travel inside a fully automated, self-contained payload built by Space Tango. This unit will manage temperature and provide nutrients to the cells throughout the flight, requiring no intervention from the crew. This ensures the astronauts can focus on their primary mission objectives.
Radiation Data from Artemis I
The uncrewed Artemis I mission carried radiation detectors inside the Orion capsule. The data revealed that radiation dose rates varied significantly depending on the spacecraft's orientation and the level of shielding. AVATAR will build on this by showing the actual biological impact of the radiation levels measured.
Post-Flight Analysis
After the Orion capsule splashes down, scientists will retrieve the chips for detailed analysis. They will use a technique called single-cell RNA sequencing, which measures the activity of thousands of genes in each individual cell. This powerful tool can reveal subtle changes in cellular function caused by space exposure.
The data from the space-flown chips will be compared against control samples that remained on Earth, also taken from the same astronauts. This side-by-side comparison is crucial for identifying changes that are specifically caused by the space environment and not by normal biological variation.
Personalized Medicine for Future Explorers
The ultimate goal of the AVATAR investigation is to enable personalized medicine for astronauts. If the data shows that one crew member's cells are particularly vulnerable to radiation, their medical kit can be customized with specific countermeasures.
"For NASA, organ chips could provide vital data for protecting astronaut health on deep space missions," explained Lisa Carnell, director of NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences division.
This targeted approach is far more efficient than carrying a generic pharmacy on a resource-limited mission. It also helps mission planners make informed decisions about mission duration, routes, and necessary shielding to mitigate risks.
- Tailored Medical Kits: Supplies can be matched to an individual's predicted health needs.
- Risk Assessment: Planners can better understand which biological risks are most serious.
- Countermeasure Development: If a vulnerability is found, protective therapies can be tested on the ground using the same chip technology.
Benefits Beyond Space Exploration
The technology developed for astronaut health has direct applications on Earth. The same bone marrow chip model, developed by the company Emulate, can be used to screen new cancer therapies. It allows researchers to see how human blood cell production reacts to different drugs or radiation doses, which can help determine safer and more effective treatments.
This type of human-relevant screening can accelerate drug development, reduce the reliance on animal testing, and help clinicians personalize treatments for patients who respond differently to standard medicines. It is a clear example of how research for space exploration often leads to medical and technological advancements on Earth.
The 10-day flight of the Artemis II chips is just the beginning. This project establishes a new framework for studying human biology in deep space. Future missions could involve chips with other tissues—such as the heart, brain, or liver—and for much longer durations, paving the way for safe human missions to Mars and beyond.
