The collaboration between space research and biotechnology can both improve the health of space travellers and also aid with new research and innovation
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The plight of stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore on the International Space Station (ISS) and concerns about their health have brought space travel to the limelight. The astronauts had only planned an eight-day mission to the ISS but have spent five months on the station owing to malfunctioning in their Boeing Starliner. They are expected to return home aboard the SpaceX capsule in February next year. With India set to have its own space station by 2035, measures to strengthen India’s space programme are a critical need. Unanticipated delays in return missions and long-term missions spark concerns over the health and well-being of astronauts. This paves the way for the research and development of technologies that can assist space explorers during their stays. The newly inked agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is an ideal opportunity for innovative commercial development in the life sciences sector.
Human space travel is in the midst of a revolution. National space agencies and commercial space companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, are advancing rapidly in this domain. Most space exploration has either been short-distance or short-duration missions, but long-duration and distant space exploration will likely be attempted in the near future. Concomitantly, the ISS—jointly operated by the United States (US), Canada, Russia and Japan—is likely to be decommissioned by the early 2030s. China already has its own space station (the Tiangong Space Station), and other countries, including India, are on their way to operationalise their own stations. Accordingly, ISRO plans to expand its space exploration programs and intends to include extended stays in space by humans.
Most space exploration has either been short-distance or short-duration missions, but long-duration and distant space exploration will likely be attempted in the near future.
The latest accounts of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore suffering from weight loss and muscle loss have brought attention to the considerable health challenges that human spaceflight presents and the need for unique solutions to manage space health. Loss of body weight, reduced muscle mass, diminished bone density, radiation exposure, vulnerability to infections, kidney stones, impaired visual acuity, and the stress accompanied by unplanned extended stays are some of the major obstacles faced by space explorers. Other challenges include bodily responses to new gravities in the spacecraft and the space station, limited access to specialised medical supplies and care, and behavioural changes in response to isolation and confinement. These physiological changes have been described by health experts from the US’s Lunar and Planetary Institute as “natural stresses” of ISS exploration. There exists, however, a knowledge gap in understanding the long-term impact space has on human health. There is also a need to develop innovative methods to address the overall health of space explorers and, in turn, to ensure the productivity of space missions. This represents an impetus to enhance our understanding of the effect of space on human health and to develop technologies that can mitigate the challenges posed by space travel.
In light of India’s space expansion programmes, including India’s forthcoming indigenous space station—the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS)—which is set to be built from 2028-2035, a multidisciplinary approach to addressing obstacles faced by astronauts is essential. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) marking the formal integration of space science with biotechnology, ushering in a new era of transformative research. The newly penned agreement between ISRO and DBT entails the design and conduct of experiments that will examine the dynamics of weightlessness on muscle atrophy and cardiovascular health, the impact of radiation on long-term health, the effect of altered microbiota on gut immunity, and the efficacy and stability of medicines used in space. In addition, biological experiments like determining the nature of algae that can be used as nutritional supplements for space travel, designing innovative methods for food preservation, utilising algae for jet fuel production, and developing methods to improve waste recycling are also in the pipeline. Experiments on these issues will likely be carried out on three uncrewed test missions, which are planned to take place before India’s Gaganyaan mission.
The newly penned agreement between ISRO and DBT entails the design and conduct of experiments that will examine the dynamics of weightlessness on muscle atrophy and cardiovascular health, the impact of radiation on long-term health, the effect of altered microbiota on gut immunity, and the efficacy and stability of medicines used in space.
In addition to improving the well-being of space travellers, space biotechnology research has historically been utilised to understand the pathophysiology of disease states and has aided in the development of therapeutics. Collaborative studies between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) have been used to study the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) after studies demonstrated that amyloid fibril formation—the structures that contribute to the onset of AD—could be effectively studied under microgravity or weightlessness conditions. Similarly, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Airway Monitoring experiments have aided in monitoring and diagnosing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and lung inflammation. Meanwhile, stem cell research in space is useful in regenerative medicine and the evolution of personalised medicine for neurodegenerative conditions such as stroke, dementia, and cancer.
In addition, space biotechnology promotes the biomanufacturing of commercially relevant products, particularly countermeasures to health issues. Notably, drug development studies have taken advantage of microgravity’s unique conditions, which provide stability to protein structures. Proteins are typically employed as either drug therapies or drug targets and are analysed effectively in their crystalline form. Accordingly, protein crystal growth (PCG) studies have led to the development of drugs targeting tuberculosis, AD, cancer, and muscular dystrophy. In addition, microgravity triggers physiological changes, including vascular changes and immune dysfunction, which resemble ageing and chronic disease conditions. These conditions mark the need for addressing space health, but they also represent unique experimental conditions that mimic naturally occurring biological states that can be replicated, providing opportunities to study disease progression and the development of therapies to address them. For instance, biofabrication technologies, including 3-D bioprinting of tissues and organoids (in vitro human organ models), have contributed to advancing knowledge on tissue development and regeneration, specifically in the bone, cartilage, liver, and heart This also has the potential to translate research work into tissue-engineered biomedical devices.
Microgravity triggers physiological changes, including vascular changes and immune dysfunction, which resemble ageing and chronic disease conditions.
Other commercial ventures include the development of water purification systems, led by an alliance between the Danish Aerospace Company (DAC) and Aquaporin Space Alliance ApS (ASA). Finally, space biotechnology and agriculture have contributed to the development of climate-resilient crops and space farming, chiefly in the Whole-Body Edible and Elite Plant (WBEEP) strategy, which aims to produce nutrient-dense, high-yielding edible parts.
Space travel by national space agencies and the recent surfacing of space tourism has opened up several new ventures for science, technology, and medicine. The new collaboration between DBT and ISRO is an exciting endeavour where the powers of biotechnology can be harnessed to improve the nation’s human space programme, ushering in India’s ‘Second Space Age.’ This also serves as a means for India to enhance its bioeconomy. Collaboration between researchers in space technology, biotechnology, and allied sectors, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, can formulate a governance structure for the development of biomedical products. Multistakeholder engagement can aid in the prioritisation and development of commercially relevant products, primarily focusing on health, nutrition and water recycling. Public-private partnerships (PPP) have contributed to the expansion of India’s space sector. Start-ups focusing on space have increased considerably, with over 300 contributing to innovation. More recently, biotechnology gained prominence in light of COVID-19 and the recent unveiling of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) and Bio-RIDE (Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development) policies that aim to promote bio-manufacturing in India. The aim is to reach a US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030. In addition, as mentioned by ORF researchers earlier, India can engage in space diplomacy with other countries through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD—a grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the US) for the development of sustainable innovations that incorporate biotechnology into the agenda. Novelties centring on human health, pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, waste management and recycling are in demand. This demonstrates a rousing opportunity for Indian researchers to expand the nation’s scientific temper and augment its commercial prowess.
Biotechnology gained prominence in light of COVID-19 and the recent unveiling of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment) and Bio-RIDE (Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development) policies that aim to promote bio-manufacturing in India.
India’s forthcoming space station and expanding space programme are openings for the country to scale up and boost its capabilities. As India enters the ‘Second Space Age’ (which includes the incorporation of longer duration and protracted space missions), ensuring the health and well-being of space travellers remains essential. Investigations into the long-term impact of space on human health and the development of measures to mitigate deleterious health effects can be channelled through cooperation with biotechnology and allied sectors. In addition, distinctive microgravity conditions provide a unique platform for life sciences research, leading to the development of commercially viable health products that can be utilised by space explorers as well as people on Earth. With significant strides being made in space travel and tourism, India needs to grab onto the opportunities presented by the new ISRO-DBT agreement and contribute to the expansion of the bioeconomy for the future.
Lakshmy Ramakrishnan is an Associate Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.
Lakshmy is an Associate Fellow with ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy. Her work focuses on the intersection of biotechnology, health, and international relations, with a ...
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