Astronaut Health & Medicine
We develop technologies to solve the medical and physiological problems of spaceflight and off-world surface exploration. Our solutions deliver a broad range of novel, small, low-power, non-invasive and versatile instrumentation and hardware tailored to meet space mission-unique requirements for end user needs.
We monitor and influence the physiologic adaptation to weightlessness by developing human performance, locomotion, and mission task analogue facilities to assess partial and no-gravity environmental effects. We monitor and prevent bone and muscle loss through daily load stimulus measurance and dosage assessment, and detecting changes in physiological parameters, including cardiovascular status.
We proudly support medical care in space and on planetary surfaces. We provide remote IV water purification capability and emergency room capability through remote monitoring. We develop training and exercise countermeasure systems to maintain proficiency, and are commercializing telemedicine post-of-care systems and cellular-based architecture for various preventative and disease management protocols (such as hypertension, blood thinner management, DVT, and atrial-fibrillation blood thinner management).
We assess and prevent human health and performance risks through probabilistic risk assessments against mission tasks and adaptation. This includes:
- Developing models that predict pressure and flow rates for various arterial and venous compartments throughout the body
- Developing modeling tools to help researchers define specific conditions and observe cardiovascular behavior. This determines intracranial pressures that informs NASA’s eye models and finite element models of the optic nerve
- Developing a research ultrasound machine (with GE Global Research) based upon the GE Healthcare Vivid E95. This machine allows the user to access the full GE Vivid E95 system, and the second configuration allows for complete software access to the beam forming and steering capability.
- Developing bone finite-element models (FEM) for NASA’s DIgital Astronaut Project. Our software enables the creation of bone FEM models for NASA crew members, which supports NASA’s models for bone chemistry, strength, and fracture risk to develop new exercise countermeasures, fitness metrics, and fracture mitigation strategies for crews on extended space missions.
Our Resistive Overload Combined with Kinetic Yo-Yo (ROCKY) device is an ultra-compact, lightweight exercise device specifically designed for NASA’s Orion spacecraft and aimed to revolutionize the way astronauts stay fit during extended space missions. A the size of a large shoebox, the ROCKY weighs ~20 lbs, takes up 1 ft3 of volume, and allows loads up to 400 lbs. The ROCKY device converts astronaut’s exercise movements into rotational energy, offering smooth resistance and accommodating various exercise motions such as rowing or lifting. Astronauts can select from a range of exercises, including rowing, squats, deadlifts, heel raises, bicep curls, and upright rows, enabling a comprehensive and versatile workout regimen.
The Glenn Harness, developed by Voyager Space and NASA’s Glenn Research Center, introduces a versatile harness system that enables effective load-bearing exercises (such as treadmill running) for astronauts in microgravity environments. The Glenn Harness enhances astronaut health, mitigates physiological challenges, and optimizes mission success. It is designed to better distribute loads at the shoulders and hips and to accommodate for physical differences in crew members, minimizing pressure points that cause pain, numbness, chafing, and scarring.
ATLAS, developed by Voyager Space and NASA, is an exploration-class mission exercise device that is used for aerobic exercise. The advanced twin lifting and aerobic system can provide resistive loading up to 600 lbs (300 lbs per side) and allows customizable loading profiles to mimic free weights or any desired loading type. ATLAS was tested on the ISS as a precursor for use in deep space systems.