Exclusive: International Space Station Experiments to Aid Mars Mission Astronauts
In a groundbreaking scientific initiative, unique experiments aboard the International Space Station are set to test drugs and medicines, preparing them for use by astronauts on future missions to Mars. The UK Space Agency has joined forces with Cambridge-based firm LinkGevity and Lithuania-based space health company Delta Biosciences for these pioneering trials.
Testing Medicines in the Harsh Environment of Space
Selected medicines are being dispatched into space to observe their reactions to prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation. The success of these tests is critical, as the medicines will be deployed by astronauts during voyages to Mars. Scientist Dominykas Milašius, co-founder of Delta Biosciences, emphasized the importance of this endeavour.
"Mankind has always contemplated the next frontier, and Mars represents that next step," Milašius stated. "We are striving to utilize near space as an exploration environment and potentially safeguard astronauts and crew for extended durations."
He highlighted the UK's historical emphasis on life sciences and the emerging space sector as a conducive backdrop for such collaborative missions. "The UK's focus provides an ideal context for a company like ours to contribute knowledge and jointly construct missions," he added.
The Critical Need for Radiation-Resistant Medications
On a Mars mission, anticipated to last approximately three years, there will be no opportunities for resupply or access to a backup pharmacy. Every tablet and drug must endure the entire journey. Medicines are typically developed and stored on Earth under the protection of the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field.
However, in deep space, astronauts face exposure to galactic cosmic rays and solar particle events, which can damage cells and alter molecular structures. Radiation does not solely impact humans; it can also transform the drugs designed to sustain their lives.
"Currently, basic medicines like adrenaline experience a drastically shortened shelf life when exposed to space radiation," Milašius explained. "They become unusable in orbit rapidly, necessitating the search for solutions."
Addressing the Challenges of Space Medicine
Research indicates that radiation can significantly reduce the shelf life of certain medicines. On a Mars mission, where resupply and evacuation are impossible, this scenario could become catastrophic. "Three years would be the parameters for a potential mission to Mars," Milašius noted. "We are working towards the objective of assembling a medical kit for astronauts that ensures medicines remain effective throughout that entire period."
Space medicine confronts a harsh reality: in deep space, drugs can weaken, fail, or undergo chemical changes. Away from Earth's protective atmosphere, astronauts are subjected to constant and lethal cosmic radiation. This radiation not only harms human cells but can also strike the molecular structure of medicines themselves.
Liquid emergency drugs, such as adrenaline, are especially vulnerable. Under radiation, their shelf life can diminish dramatically. Other medicines may gradually degrade, losing potency over time. Some compounds could form new chemical byproducts as they break down—substances never observed during standard Earth testing.
Additionally, antibiotics can become unstable, raising serious concerns about their ability to combat infections effectively after years in orbit. Experts are now stress-testing medicines in space and redesigning them with radiation-resistant formulations. This effort aims to guarantee that astronauts are not carrying a medical kit that silently ceases to function millions of miles from home.
