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        <title>Frontiers in Space Technologies | Space Exploration section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/sections/space-exploration</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Space Exploration section in the Frontiers in Space Technologies journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-06T20:58:20.670+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1752453</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1752453</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Analytical comparison of physiological parameters in participants during an analog space mission]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Karina Kijak</author><author>Anna Lubkowska</author><author>Piotr Skomro</author><author>Roman Ardan</author><author>Marta Budkowska</author><author>Barbara Gronwald</author><author>Helena Gronwald</author><author>Ewa Stachowska</author><author>Krystiana Kijak</author><author>Leszek Orzechowski</author><author>Agata Mintus</author><author>Danuta Lietz-Kijak</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundLong-duration space missions expose crew members to isolation, confinement, and altered environmental conditions that may affect physiological homeostasis. Terrestrial analog environments provide an opportunity to investigate these effects under controlled conditions. However, data describing short-term physiological responses to isolation remain limited and heterogeneous.ObjectiveThis study aimed to descriptively evaluate changes in selected physiological parameters during a 14-day isolated analog mission conducted at the LunAres Research Station.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in 40 healthy adult participants. Body weight, core body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were measured on Days 1, 7, and 14 of the mission. Data were analyzed descriptively due to the limited sample size and non-normal distribution of several variables. Distribution characteristics were assessed using Q–Q plots.ResultsAcross the observation period, all measured physiological parameters remained within established physiological reference ranges. No consistent temporal trends were observed at the group level. Inter-individual variability was evident for all parameters, particularly for body weight and cardiovascular measures. Distribution analyses demonstrate deviations from normality, supporting the use of descriptive rather than inferential statistical approaches. No clinically relevant adverse physiological changes were identified during the mission.ConclusionShort-term isolation under controlled analog conditions was not associated with clinically significant alterations in basic physiological parameters in healthy adults. The findings highlight substantial inter-individual variability and underscore the importance of cautious interpretation of physiological data derived from analog environments. Future studies should incorporate higher-frequency monitoring, standardized measurement protocols, and additional physiological and psychological markers to better characterize adaptive responses to prolonged isolation.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1715603</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1715603</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Protective magnetic shielding systems for deep space habitats: safeguarding humans and infrastructure from space weather hazards]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Onyinye G. Nwankwo</author><author>Joseph N. Pelton</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The establishment of sustainable human habitats on the Moon and Mars is moving from concept to reality through programs such as Artemis and private sector initiatives. Unlike Earth, these bodies lack global magnetospheres and thick atmospheres, leaving surface habitats and infrastructure directly exposed to solar energetic particles (SEPs), coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). These hazards pose acute and chronic risks to crew health, electronics, power systems, and communications. Developing effective protection strategies is therefore essential for long-duration missions. This contribution is written as a perspective article. It synthesizes existing work on radiation hazards, space weather impacts, and protection concepts to show how extreme solar events translate into risks for crew health, electronics, power systems, and radio-based communication and navigation at the Moon and Mars. Numerical values and modeling examples are included only to illustrate scaling and physical pathways, not as event specific predictions or design benchmarks. Within this context, the article discusses three complementary mitigation strategies. Localized artificial magnetic shielding based on high temperature superconducting coils may help deflect energetic protons, although power and thermal requirements remain major design challenges. Regolith based and subsurface shielding provides more immediately feasible options, with prior studies indicating that meter scale overburden can substantially reduce solar energetic particle doses. Predictive modeling and operational planning, including autonomous response protocols and probabilistic space weather forecasting, are equally important for enabling timely protective actions when warning times are short. These elements point toward a layered defense architecture for future lunar and Martian infrastructure. Effective deployment will depend on international standards, cooperative governance, and continued development of autonomous systems. As humanity transitions from short-term exploration to long-term habitation, radiation protection must shift from being supplementary to a central design principle for off world habitats and critical systems.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1692554</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1692554</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The database of peptide medications for human deep-space missions demonstrates the potential for on-demand “Astropharmacy”]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rebecca C. Blum</author><author>Dorra Omrani</author><author>Alina Kunitskaya</author><author>Jessica E. Snyder</author><author>Cynthia Bui</author><author>Philip M. Williams</author><author>David J. Loftus</author><author>Lynn J. Rothschild</author>
        <description><![CDATA[With the advent of long-duration lunar and Martian space missions, health risks will increase significantly as astronauts will be exposed to prolonged periods of reduced gravity, elevated radiation levels, celestial dust, and isolated environments that may interfere with psychological health and sleep. Astronauts will increasingly rely on pharmaceutical intervention to mitigate these health risks, particularly drugs targeted to treat spaceflight-induced medical conditions such as bone loss, cytopenias, and other degenerative conditions secondary to radiation exposure and immune system dysfunction. Many of these are biologic drugs, and peptide and protein pharmaceuticals are particularly unstable, with limited shelf life (∼6 months) even with refrigeration, which is inadequate for a 2+-year mission to Mars and back. In addition to reduced drug stability in space, there are mass/volume constraints, uncertainty regarding how much—if any—of the drugs will be needed, and severely limited re-supply opportunities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has identified the need to establish a drug formulary for long-duration space missions, along with a process to ensure that medications remain efficacious during flight. To address these challenges, we aim to develop an “Astropharmacy,” a compact platform that uses engineered microbes to produce small doses of biologics on demand, either in transit or at space destinations that may be far from Earth. To assess the potential for this Astropharmacy, we have compiled a database of peptide and protein drugs that may be needed to mitigate the health risks during long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars that are well-suited for production by the Astropharmacy system. The compiled database acts as a guide for drugs that could be produced using the Astropharmacy system. Importantly, the database can also serve as a valuable resource for flight surgeons and the medical community on Earth, particularly those providing care in resource-limited environments, along with researchers studying biologic drug development.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1751787</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1751787</link>
        <title><![CDATA[In-Situ resource utilization-derived iron perchlorate redox flow battery for Mars: electrolyte characterization and extreme cold performance validation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chris Z. Liu</author><author>Kaiyue Deng</author><author>Kelvin Fu</author><author>Hansan Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Sustained habitation on Mars demands robust energy storage systems capable of reliable operation under extreme cold, especially during night and dust storm periods that render conventional lithium-ion batteries ineffective. This work introduces an in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) strategy for constructing iron perchlorate redox flow batteries, fully leveraging Martian-available materials to achieve extreme cold resilience. Eutectic freezing points and ionic conductivities of three Martain-available electrolytes (iron sulfate, iron chloride, and iron perchlorate) were systematically characterized. Iron perchlorate aqueous solution at 45 wt% displayed a eutectic freezing point of −78 °C, outperforming iron chloride (−55 °C) and iron sulfate (−10 °C). Laboratory-scale single cells were developed via computer-aided design and 3D printing, then tested under simulated Martian low-temperature conditions. The iron perchlorate system maintained 56% of its room-temperature capacity at −50 °C and remained operational at −70 °C, while iron chloride cells retained only 25% at −50 °C and lost functionality at lower temperatures. Electrochemical impedance measurements revealed that, although electrolyte resistance increases at lower temperature, charge transfer resistance becomes the dominant limiting factor under extreme cold. The results establish that ISRU-derived iron perchlorate flow batteries offer a feasible, cold-resilient solution for reliable energy storage in future Mars surface operations and settlement, with further performance gains likely through advanced perchlorate brine formulation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1736627</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2026.1736627</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Aerospace health: a systematic review and current state of science]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Michael Joseph Dino</author><author>Chloe Margalaux Villafuerte</author><author>Justin Pimentel</author><author>Jerald Sayat</author><author>Joseph Carlo Vital</author><author>Danny Hernandez</author><author>Ladda Thiamwong</author><author>Veronica Decker</author><author>Mona Shattell</author><author>Luis Ezra Cruz</author><author>Mary Leoncio</author><author>Joshua Rejs Reyes</author><author>Reylan David</author><author>Jose Arnel Manalili</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe frontier of aerospace health integrates medicine, technology, psychology, and related disciplines. The field has evolved from its earlier emphasis on maintaining crew survival beyond Earth’s atmosphere to addressing the fundamental challenge of sustainable human space habitation. Despite the growing body of literature in aerospace health, a gap persists due to an overconcentration on synthesis studies with limited empirical validation and insufficient attention to higher-order human health needs, including psychosocial aspects. By examining existing literature, this systematic review aims to present the current landscape of aerospace health research and its future directions.MethodsThe research paper adopted an integrative review framework developed by Whittemore et al. (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 2005, 52(5), 546–553), comprising five stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and data presentation.Results and DiscussionThe Results and Discussion are organized into three sections that reflect the study’s objectives: (1) to focus on bibliometric patterns of the field, (2) to demonstrate study purposes and health-related outcomes, and (3) to conduct keyword network analysis and thematic linkages among the included articles. Findings indicate that most studies reviewed in aerospace health involve multiple authors, show a notable increase after the COVID‐19 pandemic, and are primarily concentrated in the Americas. The results can be attributed to the multidisciplinary nature of the aerospace industry, the post-pandemic expansion of space activities, and the dominance of U.S.-led space initiatives. In addition, article purpose and outcomes demonstrate eight themes identified across all articles, covered under: (1) Physiology and Health Risks, (2) Psychology and Behavior, (3) Pharmaceuticals and Interventions, (4) Product and Technology, (5) Profession and Training, (6) Process and Procedures, (7) Place and Environment, and (8) Policy and Strategy. Keywords and network analysis, on the other hand, determine six themes, namely: (1) Health Ecosystem, (2) Health Examination, (3) Health Education, (4) Health Engineering, (5) Health Estimation, and (6) Health Evidence.ConclusionUltimately, the review presents a Torus Model and thematic analyses that map the current landscape of aerospace health research and provide insights for future directions of the field.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.osf.io/97u8f]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1690460</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1690460</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Space debris material sourcing for in-space manufacturing: a quantitative evaluation framework]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Madeline Lenkart</author><author>Stephan Biller</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The increasing accumulation of space debris presents significant challenges to sustainable space exploration while offering opportunities for material reuse through in-space manufacturing. This research presents a framework for deriving the comprehensive value associated with using the growing space debris population as a material sourcing option for future in-space manufacturing. The growth rate of the space debris population in low Earth orbit is derived using a material flow analysis for future launch rate estimates up to the year 2050. Using these estimates, a total value calculation for space debris material sourcing is determined by considering the value associated with space debris’s material market value, transportation cost reduction, and object removal risk reduction. The results of this framework indicate that cost savings from reduced material transportation to space are the most significant driver for overall space debris value, significantly outweighing the contributions of material and risk reduction value. As more data become available regarding in-space manufacturing capabilities, this framework provides insights regarding the composition of space debris value and assesses the economic viability of space debris reuse.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1725449</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1725449</link>
        <title><![CDATA[From molecules to minds – an integrative framework for living in space]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Susan Ip-Jewell</author><author>Raj K. Badhan</author><author>Emmy Jewell</author><author>Surabhi Sonawane</author><author>Madhumitha Srenivasan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As humanity transitions from episodic exploration to sustained habitation beyond low Earth orbit, the long-term viability of human life in space has become a critical scientific challenge. Survival in extraterrestrial environments requires more than engineering solutions; it demands an integrative approach that addresses molecular stability, physiological regulation, psychological adaptation, and ethical governance. This perspective proposes a unified framework that combines space medicine, multi-omics science, behavioral health, and agentic artificial intelligence to meet the complex demands of long-duration missions. Human heterogeneity, sex-specific physiology, epigenetic plasticity, and the operational boundaries of AI are examined alongside the distinction between adult astronaut adaptation and the unresolved biological risks of multi-generational colonization. By situating technological advancement within a human-centered, ethically governed paradigm, this framework offers a structured roadmap for a sustainable human presence beyond Earth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1725575</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1725575</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Enabling living in space through modern innovations in space medicine: a perspective on tissue-on-a-chip technology ]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Subhajit Hazra</author><author>Sibsankar Palit</author><author>Thais Russomano</author><author>Gaurab Ghosh</author><author>Polash Sannigrahi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Human spaceflight has evolved from the short missions of the 1960s to more recent, longer-term missions, such as those aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and future missions to the Moon and Mars. These missions have provided valuable insights into the effects of space-based phenomena, such as microgravity, radiation, and isolation, on human physiology. Studies have shown that microgravity causes rapid muscle atrophy (up to 20% in 1–2 weeks) and bone density loss (1%–1.5% per month), and radiation exposure leads to DNA damage, oxidative stress, and immune suppression. Moreover, immune system dysregulation, evidenced by the reactivation of latent viruses like Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus, poses significant health risks. Recent advancements in Tissue-on-a-Chip (ToC) technology offer a promising approach to model immune responses in space, enabling real-time monitoring and testing of countermeasures. Ongoing studies, such as the Tissue Chips in Space Initiative, aim to investigate immune responses under microgravity, focusing on the differentiation of immune cells and the effects of space stressors on immune function. These innovations, including wearable biosensors, are paving the way for a personalized approach to astronaut health monitoring due to their potential applications in both space missions and terrestrial healthcare. Future research must address the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory standards of ToC technology to ensure its integration in long-duration space missions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1705650</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1705650</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The role of early human development and multidimensional enhancements in driving space adaptation and Universal Cognition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Marta Ferraz</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This manuscript provides a glimpse into the future of early human development in space environments, underpinned by interdisciplinary research and technological advancements. The implications of early human development in space are analyzed, exploring potential scenarios that could enhance human biology to adapt effectively to these conditions. It is proposed that the initial phases of human development might serve as an optimal period for fostering biological adaptation to space. Such adaptations could pave the way for the emergence of new evolutionary states, establishing the groundwork for a novel human subspecies. The potential for these emerging subspecies to develop the ability to perceive diverse environmental properties hints at a groundbreaking biological era designated here as Universal Cognition.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1651978</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1651978</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Spirulina supported plant growth in regolith simulants and elevated levels of CO2]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kristen A. Miller</author><author>Dennis Terry Trevino</author><author>Gilbert Cauthorn</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionA key element for sustainable off-world habitation is the ability to grow food through in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Growth substrates are required to overcome the challenges of ISRU in the space environment, including the use of regolith. Biofertilizers such as algae are a promising avenue for supporting plant growth with ISRU; algae can potentially mitigate the lack of nutrients, alkalinity, heavy-metal contamination, poor water-carrying capacity, and presence of perchlorates in regolith as well as increase plant growth at elevated levels of atmospheric CO2. The blue-green cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis is an ionizing radiation resistant strain with high temperature tolerance and nutritional properties. It has been used successfully as a bio-fertilizer in heavy metal contaminated, highly alkaline terrestrial soilsMethodsOur research is a large-scale investigation of the efficacy of spirulina to enhance the growth of Raphanus sativus (Organic Daikon radish) microgreens using lunar and Martian regolith simulants. We present a study of growth for a wide range of regolith simulant-soil mixtures as a function of fertilizer concentration and the level of environmental CO2.ResultsSpirulina boosts growth for radish microgreens significantly; Martian regolith simulant with 0.6% spirulina under elevated CO2 yielded the best results. Water-only groups declined after the initial growth phase; spirulina fertilized groups maintained steady growth rates over the full growing period. Regolith simulant type influenced biomass more than height, with the best growth found in Martian rather than lunar regolith simulant. No difference was found between the different regolith simulant-to-soil mixtures.DiscussionThis research advances the application of ISRU to enhance self-sufficient, sustainable space exploration and resource use. In this research, spirulina fertilization compensated for the non-nutritive properties of regolith, supporting plant growth without the addition of terrestrial soils. This work suggests that spirulina can serve as an effective biofertilizer in soil farming practices using ISRU as a potential means of supporting off-world habitation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1704391</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1704391</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Biological impacts of hypomagnetic fields in space environment: implications for artificial magnetic field provision in long-duration spaceflight]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-31T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Nhat Dang</author><author>Jason Keller</author><author>Frank Barnes</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Life on Earth evolved and exists within the geomagnetic field which currently ranges from approximately 25–65 µT. Voyages beyond Earth’s magnetosphere expose astronauts to the unique conditions of deep space, characterized by significantly reduced magnetic fields ranging from 2 to 8 nT. This review examines the growing body of evidence concerning the biological impacts of hypomagnetic and altered magnetic fields on humans and other organisms, highlighting the implications for long-duration spaceflight and space mission. Research using human cell cultures and mammalian models indicates that exposure to varying magnetic field conditions, including hypomagnetic fields (HMF), can induce diverse biological effects. These include changes in cellular proliferation, nervous system function, oxidative stress reactive oxygen species levels, and DNA integrity, with outcomes often dependent on specific field intensity, frequency, and length of exposures. Furthermore, HMF exposure has been shown to affect bacterial behavior and the human microbiome, potentially altering antibiotic resistance and increasing risks of infection, given the compromised immune function astronauts may experience in space. Considering these biological impacts on the wellbeing of astronauts on long-term space mission, providing artificial magnetic fields onboard spacecraft is proposed as a critical strategy to mitigate HMF effects, support astronaut health, and enhance the feasibility and safety of future deep space missions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1675939</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1675939</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Magnetic shielding systems to support longer-term human exploration of Mars]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Joseph N. Pelton</author><author>James Green</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Space activities are primarily conducted for three purposes: scientific research, human space exploration, and space applications. Over the past few decades, commercial space applications have expanded rapidly and now significantly outpace the efforts of space agencies. Agencies such as NASA have largely shifted their focus away from operational applications, leaving this domain to private enterprise. An emerging domain is the integration of scientific research, exploration, and applications: human space development and cosmic defense. This concept includes initiatives such as mitigating space debris, advancing bio-regenerative life support systems for both Earth and space, and enabling infrastructure for future deep space human settlement and enterprise. This article makes the case for an international coalition of space agencies to spearhead this forward-looking effort aimed at altering the Martian environment to support human life. A core feature of this vision involves developing an artificial magnetosphere. This technology would not only support terraforming efforts but could also lead to the establishment of large-scale human colonies on Mars. The concept extends beyond Mars. If successful, magnetic shielding could also be applied to Earth to mitigate catastrophic solar storms or address the long-term degradation of Earth’s geomagnetic field. These activities could yield critical insights into preserving our biosphere and ensuring the future safety of life on Earth. Three broad scenarios are presented to support human life on Mars. Together, they represent a new, integrative approach to space agency missions, one that supports human expansion into deep space and potentially even the revival of Mars as a living world.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1652557</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1652557</link>
        <title><![CDATA[NASA leadership: utilizing awe-narratives to enhance wellbeing]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jeff Thompson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The wellbeing of astronauts on long-duration space missions is critical to current and future mission success. It is equally important that those who support astronauts, pre-mission, during the mission, and post-mission, are thriving as well. Therefore, this interpretative phenomenological analysis study examines how a selection of NASA leaders perceive a phenomenon, awe, along with related resilience practices, as supporting their wellbeing in both their professional work and personal lives. The results reveal that awe-narrative interviews can support them professionally while also enhancing their overall wellbeing. Awe narratives have the ability to serve as a gateway to other resilience practices, including cognitive reappraisal, finding meaning and purpose in life, gratitude, hope and optimism, and social connectedness. These results suggest the awe narrative-based interventions can offer both an evidence-based and practical way to benefit NASA personnel, as well as other professionals working in high-pressure and stressful environments.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1677693</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1677693</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Industrializing the Earth–Moon system: a conceptual study for a space factory at Lagrange point L5]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Werner Grandl</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The utilization of the natural resources of our Moon and the near-earth asteroids (NEAs) for the benefit of humankind will need industrial plants in space. There are a number of possible locations for the deep-space processing of extracted space-based materials and future industrial activities in cis-lunar space. Prime among these are the Moon itself and the Earth’s five Lagrange points which provide equilibrium between the gravity forces of the Earth and Moon. Especially in Lagrange points L4 and L5, objects remain in stable positions because of the triangle between the object, Earth, and Moon. Building the first space factory in L5, for example, will enable the processing of material and production of goods in zero gravity. Unlike on Earth or the Moon, solar power would be available for 24 h. The industrialisation of cis-lunar space will start with the mining of our Moon. The Lagrange Space Factory (LSF) would start with the processing of lunar material and extract aluminum, iron, titanium, and other materials from lunar regolith. When the metals are extracted from oxides, oxygen is a byproduct. An additional source for material would be the recycling of orbital debris to clean up Earth’s orbit. In the long run, the LSF would also process NEA material, including gold, platinum, and carbon. C-type (carbonaceous) asteroids also contain water ice and organic molecules. The goal would be to produce building material like steel bars and aluminum panels, tubes, and bricks for future space habitats. Oxygen and space-made propellant could also be produced. The isotope helium-3 is abundant on the Moon and can be used for future nuclear fusion in space and on Earth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1591817</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1591817</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The psychomotor vigilance task for assessing the effects of motion sickness and its treatment]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Shireen Geimer</author><author>Christopher E. Niemczak</author><author>Patrick T. Howard</author><author>Mathias Basner</author><author>Jay C. Buckey</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundMotion sickness drugs can improve symptoms but also cause drowsiness and reduce performance as side effects. We assessed whether the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) could provide an objective performance measure when motion sickness occurs and when drugs are used to prevent motion sickness.MethodsData were from a previously published placebo-controlled study of chlorpheniramine (C) or chlorpheniramine plus ephedrine (CE). Participants did the PVT before drug/placebo, after drug/placebo, and after provocative motion in an off-vertical axis rotation chair. Eighteen individuals were randomized to receive one of six different orders of placebo, C, or CE. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effect models and repeated measures ANOVAs.ResultsMean and median response speeds were significantly reduced after chair rides for the placebo condition indicating the PVT was sensitive to motion sickness effects. C and CE both improved motion sickness symptoms but response speeds post motion with C were significantly worse than CE post ride measures.ConclusionEphedrine given with C negated the response speed effects from C alone and enabled subjects to sustain vigilance after drug treatment. The PVT offered an objective assessment of the effects of both motion sickness and effects of motion sickness treatment on attention and vigilance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1553854</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1553854</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Microbial contamination and pharmaceutical stability in space environment: addressing dual challenge with innovative technologies and sustainable practices]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Manali Patel</author><author>Priya Patel</author><author>Nasreen S. Munshi</author><author>Shikha Patel</author><author>Shrushti Patil</author><author>Anshu Srivastva</author><author>Jibin Dhanraj</author><author>Raviteja Duggineni</author><author>Priti Mehta</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As human physiology gets altered in the presence of space flight conditions such as microgravity and radiation, microbes also behave differently in space. Many microorganisms have been isolated from space stations and spacecrafts after human space travel. Biofilm formation and biofilm-related fouling specifically in the water recovery system of space stations are known. Microbes have evolved various physiological and genetic adaptations which allow them to grow and develop biofilm in harsh space environments as well. They contaminate the spacecraft environment, its surfaces, water system, and food products and also affect astronauts’ health due to decreased immunity in space. Microbes also develop antibiotic resistance and hence, the choice of antibiotics is a challenging task for treating infection during space travel. There is also a negative impact of the space environment on the stability of antimicrobial agents and many get degraded in the presence of ionizing space radiation. This article describes strategies that may decrease the risk of microbial contamination and associated problems during space expeditions. Various preventive measures are suggested such as use of disinfectants for periodic cleaning, development of antibiotic coated surfaces to kill microbes, development of space-hardy anti-microbial drugs, etc. Multifaceted approach that integrates technological innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and robust policy frameworks is essential. Space based microbial research can further help for the innovations in healthcare and environment management on earth.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1571592</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1571592</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of neutron exposure on the embryonic development of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a candidate fish species for space aquaculture: simulated conditions on the ISS and during a lunar mission]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Cyrille Przybyla</author><author>Richard Babut</author><author>Hugo Laganier</author><author>Gilbert Dutto</author><author>Emmanuel Mansuy</author><author>Sarah Elie</author><author>Stéphane Lallement</author><author>Isabelle Cavalie</author><author>Maria J. Darias</author><author>Sophie Hermet</author><author>Nicolas Balcon</author><author>Yann Perrot</author><author>Christelle Adam-Guillermin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[One of the scenarios for manned space exploration involves the presence of a community on a lunar base that is partially autonomous in terms of food production. Space aquaculture could represent a source of nutrient-rich food to supplement the supply of photosynthetic organisms. To assess the feasibility of safely transporting aquaculture fish embryos to the Moon, the impact of secondary particles produced by cosmic radiation within the space vehicle cabin on fish embryogenesis and DNA damage was evaluated. Among these secondary particles this study focuses on neutron which is one the most hazardous radiation for living organisms. Using a particle accelerator, European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) eggs were irradiated with neutrons at two dose rates, representative of International Space Station (ISS) and lunar missions. The mean absorbed dose rates in fish eggs were 16.7 μGy h−1 (total dose of 0.57 mGy) and 585 μGy h−1 (total dose of 12 mGy) for the ISS and lunar mission simulations, respectively. Hatching rate, histology and DNA integrity (assessed by alkaline comet assay) of fish larvae were evaluated for both neutron dose rates. Genotoxicity results showed DNA alterations in newly hatched larvae after 48 and 72 h of exposure. However, no modifications in hatching rate or histological structure of the exposed larvae were observed at either dose rate. Although further long-term studies are needed to verify their potential for “off-Earth food production,” these results complement previous experiments and confirm the hatchability of an aquaculture species under neutron exposure conditions of an ISS or lunar mission.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1505823</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1505823</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Increasing fidelity in lunar and martian analogs for behavioral health and performance research]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Katherine M. Rahill</author><author>Ajitkumar P. Mulavara</author><author>Kerry George</author><author>Brian F. Gore</author><author>Alexandra M. Whitmire</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), international space agencies, and commercial spaceflight programs set their sights on missions to the Moon and Mars, understanding the impact of spaceflight on astronauts’ health and performance becomes increasingly important. High-fidelity ground-based and space-based simulations of hazards induced by these missions can be used to conduct research that will help mitigate potential adverse outcomes in behavioral health and performance. In this review, current classifications of NASA’s research analogs are discussed, along with their strengths and limitations for effectively assessing risk to Moon- and Mars-bound astronauts’ behavioral health and performance. Recommendations are proposed for future consideration when designing high-fidelity analogs of spaceflight, which emphasize the importance of standardizing protocols, maintaining safety, and addressing ethical standards for future research and for developing analogs of mission-specific habitats.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1391331</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1391331</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimise behavioural health and human factors research for deep space missions by classifying analogue scenarios and fidelity]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-03-31T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Károly Kornél Schlosser</author><author>Ilaria Cinelli</author><author>Thorsten Waelde</author><author>Luis Luque Álvarez</author><author>Gábor Pokorádi</author><author>Krisztián Pósch</author><author>Iya Whiteley</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Future human space missions beyond low Earth orbit face significant challenges in understanding and managing astronaut behaviour and performance in extreme environments, with behavioural health remaining a critical knowledge gap. Ground research in analogue environments offers cost-effective means to address these challenges. Still, due to analogues' compromised fidelity levels, the findings derived from such activity may only sometimes be reliable, rigorous and transferable to human space exploration. We hypothesise that gaps in understanding human behaviour and performance could be significantly addressed by using analogues with higher realism, which can accurately replicate specific conditions and yield more relevant insights to better inform future space missions. This paper takes a behavioural health approach to future spaceflight and evaluates analogue scenarios in such a perspective, to ensure the ecological validity and reliability of behavioural health research outcomes. Furthermore, we emphasise the functional-contextual importance of the features of analogue scenarios to resemble the complexity of current and/or future human space mission scenarios in terrestrial settings. Building on previously published research, we introduce the Extended Feature Classification System of Analogues (EFCSA) to identify analogue scenarios with greater realism. It evaluates the analogue’s fidelity level based on contextual and human factor features. Features themes include isolation, lack of resupplies, element of exploration, environmental conditions, biopsychosocial impact, and skill expertise, among others. Based on the EFCSA, we preliminarily identified a range of analogue scenarios into Low-, Mid-, and High-fidelities and introduced the term “Peak-fidelity”. The latter (such as wet cave exploration, and submerged cave system exploration and camping) and high-fidelity scenarios (saturation diving/underwater habitats, polar expeditions, polar overwintering, and submarines) offer the greatest fidelity in replicating space features with further potential. Mid-fidelity activities include technical diving (open water/pools) and dry cave exploration and camping. Low-fidelity activities include recreational diving (open water, <40 m), marine expeditions and sailing, piloting, parabolic flight, desert-based surface analogues and mountaineering expeditions. It is important to highlight that these results do not diminish the utility of other analogues; instead, the EFCSA helps to identify specific purposes for which analogues are useful, and serves as a means to improve analogue realism.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1539106</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frspt.2025.1539106</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Exploring space: ethical dilemmas for catholicism]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-31T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Maurizio Balistreri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This article explores the Catholic Church’s perspective on space exploration and construction of human settlements beyond Earth, highlighting the significant moral dilemmas posed by these endeavors. While the Church generally supports space exploration, biotechnologies such as genome editing, assisted reproduction, and artificial wombs – technologies potentially essential for human survival and reproduction in space – clash with its moral principles. Non-therapeutic genetic modifications, regarded by the Church as an arbitrary redesign of human nature, are categorically prohibited. Similarly, assisted reproduction is considered morally unacceptable due to the destruction of embryos, the separation of the unitive and procreative aspects of human sexuality, and it fosters the selection of embryos and eugenics practices. Although the use of artificial wombs offers practical and safety benefits in space, it is also incompatible with the Church’s teachings on the dignity of human life and procreation. These conflicts underscore the Church’s challenge in reconciling humanity’s aspirations for space exploration with its ethical and spiritual framework. If technologies that fundamentally alter human nature or reproduction are excluded, the prospect of human expansion into space may remain morally unattainable.]]></description>
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