NASA to study human health and performance during Crew-13 mission

NASA will study how spaceflight affects human health and performance during the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The study includes a collaboration with the European Space Agency to examine blood flow and clotting in space. Researchers will use MRI scans, jugular vein ultrasounds, blood pressure checks, and blood draws to track changes in blood flow and composition. The findings will help develop preventive measures for at-risk astronauts and improve safety on future missions.

• "Venous Haemostasis" will combine data from NASA and ESA to better understand how microgravity affects blood clotting and circulation.
• Astronauts will undergo these tests before, during, and after the mission.
• The study aims to determine if knowledge from this and other research can lead to better ways to prevent and treat blood clots both in space and on Earth.

The Crew-13 mission also includes a performance study called Manual Piloting, which uses lunar-landing simulations to test how well astronauts can handle challenging landings after spending extended time in microgravity. Researchers are evaluating how long-duration spaceflight affects sensory systems, orientation, and motion control, and whether refresher training can improve piloting performance.

• The B-Complex study will assess whether a daily B-vitamin supplement can reduce or prevent Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS).
• Crew members will undergo vision tests and take B vitamins before, during, and after the mission to evaluate the supplement's effectiveness.
• The study will also assess how the B vitamins influence how crew members' blood vessels function before and after flight.

These investigations will help NASA better understand how the human body responds to spaceflight and whether specific strategies can effectively protect astronaut health and performance. The results will inform future missions, including Artemis and Mars expeditions.

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