For example, previous studies suggest that in some astronauts, white blood cells - the cells that fight off infection - aren’t always as efficient in protecting the body as they are on Earth. Space, however, can throw this network off balance. It also regulates and coordinates with many of the body’s other systems. The immune system is a network of hormones, cells, and organs that protects our bodies from microbes and other pathogens that can make us ill. And once we know these risks, we can help develop strategies to lessen them.” “So we really want to know the clinical risks for exploration-class, deep-space missions. “The immune system isn’t immune to the changes astronauts undergo in space,” noted Crucian. Building on previous studies, Crucian is now overseeing an investigation into the specific biological pathways through which the immune system reacts during spaceflight. Brian Crucian, lead scientist for the agency’s immunology research. To learn more, NASA’s Human Research Program, or HRP, consults Dr. In the isolated environment of the International Space Station, many factors - physiological stress, disrupted circadian rhythms, radiation, microgravity, and other spaceflight factors - can alter an astronaut’s immune response.Īs NASA prepares astronauts to head to the Moon and Mars, scientists tasked with ensuring astronaut safety want to know: How will long-duration spaceflight missions change immune responses, and will these changes be significant enough to influence crew health risks and mission success? But in space, that same immune system will have to work a bit harder to overcome the same infection. On Earth, a human body with a properly functioning immune system will work to overcome an infection. Her sample will be used to measure stress hormones and other biomarkers of health that can reveal how her immune system changes in space. NASA astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor provides a saliva sample on the International Space Station.
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