Skip to content

Polaris Dawn crew meets with principal investigators of science and research experiments to discuss initial findings

The Polaris Dawn crew of Jared Isaacman, Kidd Poteet, Sarah Gillis, and Anna Menon and dozens of principal investigators and scientists convened in Houston, Texas, in early April to review the initial findings of the nearly 40 science and research experiments conducted during the Polaris Dawn campaign and its five-day mission in space. These experiments, spanning human physiology, molecular biology, radiation, plant growth, and operational technologies, provide critical data to address the health and operational challenges of future long-duration human spaceflight, as well as human health on Earth. Many of these studies leveraged the unique opportunity to collect data from the crew both on orbit and within hours of their return to Earth, offering insights into the immediate adaptation to space and re-adaptation back to Earth.

Below are high-level summaries of the initial findings:

Physiology and Medical Capabilities:

  • International Institute for Astronautical Sciences: The Automated Pupillometry study found increased pupillary response in microgravity and reduced constriction rate post-flight, indicating increased alertness and fatigue.
  • Hytro: The Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) study explored low and high occlusion BFR to prevent fluid shifts and maintain musculoskeletal health.
  • University of Calgary: The Bone Health study found bone loss in astronauts’ lower legs after five days using high-resolution imaging, highlighting rapid bone loss in microgravity.
  • Medical University of South Carolina: The Brain MRI study identified brain anatomical changes, including upward shift and ventricular enlargement, in some crewmembers after the five-day mission, underscoring how early the brain adapts to microgravity and the benefit of immediate postflight imaging.
  • Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) (with Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne): The Anemia study identified increased markers of red blood cell damage, suggesting that red blood cell destruction is the leading cause of space-induced anemia.
  • University of Colorado – Boulder: The Eye Changes study found individualized eye changes, including shifts in refractive error, corneal shape, and intraocular pressure, underscoring the vast individual differences in reaction to microgravity.
  • University of Texas Medical Branch: The Airway Assessment study demonstrated successful transnasal endoscopy and airway ultrasound by non-physicians, noting airway structure changes during short-duration spaceflight.
  • Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and URSUS Medical Designs: The Optic Nerve Health (ONS) Ultrasound study used 3D ultrasound to monitor optic nerve sheath changes, revealing variability in the ability of crewmembers’ optic nerve sheaths to adapt to pressure changes expected from fluid shifts upon entering microgravity.
  • SpaceX: The Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) study observed lower glucose levels in three crewmembers and high levels in one, demonstrating the efficacy of these continuous glucose monitors to provide care for future diabetic astronauts.
  • Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth: The Stone Risk study showed morning urine calcium measurements could track kidney stone and bone loss risk, enabling personalized countermeasures.
  • NASA: The Tempus Pro study demonstrated vital signs collection and medical simulation, noting the device’s complex interface and number of cords posed challenges.

Cognitive and Sensorimotor Effects:

  • Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (supported by TRISH): The Cognition & Physiology study found over one hour less sleep in-flight and lower alertness early in-flight, normalizing later, indicating stress during microgravity transition.
  • Johns Hopkins University (supported by TRISH): The Otolith & Posture study linked eye alignment patterns to space motion sickness susceptibility, advancing predictive testing and countermeasure development.
  • University of Colorado – Boulder:
    • The Cross-Coupled Illusion study found intensified cross-coupled illusion in two crewmembers during in-flight spins, suggesting acclimation protocols for artificial gravity.
    • The G-Transition study quantified illusory self-motion sensations during microgravity transitions, supporting a complex vestibular hypothesis.
    • The Repeat Flyer Motion Sickness study noted significant motion sickness in two crewmembers early in-flight, with less severe readaptation sickness post-flight.
    • The GVS study tested galvanic vestibular stimulation, mimicking post-flight illusory sensations, with potential as a training tool.
    • The VR Training study found degraded performance post-flight for fine motor tasks, emphasizing the need for in-flight refresher training.
  • NASA: The Motion Sickness Countermeasures study collected crew feedback on effective motion sickness mitigation strategies, informing future mission protocols.

Omics Insights:

  • Weill Cornell:
    • The Biobank study processed 6,363 biospecimen aliquots, generating the most comprehensive molecular portrait of astronauts to date.
    • The Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) study revealed spaceflight-specific gene expression and protein changes in immune cells, with T-cell activation and stress markers that may help explain immune and pharmacokinetic perturbations.
  • TRISH – Baylor College of Medicine: The Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) Omics study analyzed 295 biospecimens, identifying 1,014 significantly altered proteins post-flight related to immune and signaling pathways.

Radiation Environment Characterization:

  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: The OHSNAP study generated new measurements of space radiation, enhancing understanding of astronaut radiation exposure.
  • NASA (supported by TRISH): The Radiation Measurements study recorded an 8 mSv total dose, half from Van Allen belt transits, equivalent to a 20-day ISS stay, improving radiation modeling.
  • NASA: The Light Flashes study observed continuous radiation-induced light flashes during a Van Allen belt pass, a higher rate than previously reported.

Plant Growth:

  • United States Air Force Academy: The Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Plants study grew Arabidopsis plants in orbit, with 3D modeling showing differences in root gravitropic responses influenced by non-genetic factors, suggesting implications for space agriculture.

Pharmaceutical Studies:

  • Space Team – Donehoo, Guttendorf, Alturas, Neoteryx: The Pharmacokinetics study found higher blood concentrations of medications in space, enabling safer dosing protocols using a novel blood collection device.
  • SpaceX (with NASA): The VacuuMeds study confirmed minimal degradation of medications exposed to space vacuum, with no drug showing more than 5% difference, supporting pharmaceutical stability.

While many of the nearly 40 experiments have provided early insights, others remain in the preliminary stages, with researchers still evaluating initial data. To learn more about ongoing and future findings, visit the websites and social media channels of the various partner institutions and principal investigators involved in each experiment. See the full list of partners and experiments here.

Back to all