TRISH Essential Measures

Following on from research on previous Axiom missions, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) will gather human physiological and cognitive data on how humans adapt to space, collected from commercial spaceflight participants. Understanding how humans adapt to microgravity helps us develop countermeasures or optimize training regimes for new users of microgravity.

In addition to the crew-curated research portfolios, Axiom Space is collaborating with a variety of institutions to conduct several science investigations. Demonstrations range from self-assembling technology for satellites and future space habitats and air purification to cancer stem cell study and pre- and post-flight collection of physiological data.  

Dr. Emmanuel Urquieta, the chief medical officer for the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), joined the launch webcast to discuss the organization’s EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration Platforms and ANalog Definition) program, which compiles health data from private spaceflight into a centralized research database. The data broaden understanding of how space impacts human health and how to prepare humans for the demands of long-distance and long-duration space travel, including to the Moon and eventually, to Mars.

“One of the outcomes – and main applications for spaceflight – that we want to get from this research is that short duration missions like Axiom-1 are very relevant in the context of Artemis missions,” said Dr. Urquieta. “When we go back to the Moon, the first missions will be roughly the same duration as this Axiom one. So, anything new we learn from this mission is going to be absolutely valuable.”