ISRO teams up with AIIMS to study impact of space missions on astronauts' health, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• ISRO and AIIMS Delhi have signed an MoU to study the impact of space missions on astronauts' health.
• AIIMS will develop a training module for astronauts, focusing on handling objects, conducting experiments, and managing health emergencies in zero gravity.
• The collaboration aims to advance research in space medicine and understand the physiological effects of space missions on astronauts.
• Research will cover areas like human physiology, cardiovascular regulation, musculoskeletal health, immunology, genomics, and behavioral health.

Detailed Insights:

• The MoU is aligned with India's vision to send humans into space and establish the Bharat Antariksh Station, similar to the International Space Station.
• Simulation technologies will be used to mimic microgravity conditions on Earth to study the human body's reactions to space-like environments.
• Astronauts experience physiological changes in microgravity, including bone density loss, blood flow shifts, and motion sickness, necessitating comprehensive research.
• AIIMS has been working in space physiology since around 2013, studying global literature and identifying research areas relevant to space applications.
• The collaboration will produce reliable Indian data on how astronauts' bodies respond to space conditions, addressing the current lack of comprehensive physiological data.
• Space emergency medicine is a key area of study, focusing on training astronauts to independently manage medical situations with remote expert consultation.

Impact of Microgravity

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Microgravity: The condition of experiencing very little or no gravitational force.
• Human Physiology: The study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans.
• Genomics: The study of the complete set of genes within a cell or organism.