With NASA planners setting up the stage for the eventual manned mission to Mars projected for a 2030 launch, scientists are now studying the potential effects of such a long-term space travel on the health of astronauts that will take part in the program.
One such health issue is the thinning of astronauts' skin during their stay in space.
Through the use of advanced imaging technology, researchers at Saarland University in Germany have started examining a phenomenon in which the skin astronauts become thinner while they are on their space mission.
Saarland scientists, led by Prof. Karsten Koenig of the university's biophotonics and laser technology department, made of use of high-resolution tomography to study the skin cells of astronauts before and after they go on their journey to space.
According to its developers, the spatial resolution of the laser device is a thousand times better compared to those that use ultrasonic technology. Koenig believes the imaging device can also provide revolutionary benefits to hospitals in terms of accurate diagnosis.
"We use femtosecond laser pulses," Koenig said. "We scan the skin and we get signals from the skin, particularly fluorescence, as well as another signal called second harmonic generation."
"With these two signals we can build up images and get a precise look into the skin with a high resolution."
Koenig added that the laser technology eliminates the need for biopsies, in which specimens are sliced and stained in order for a pathologist to examine each section. It provides results in high quality resolutions in seconds and without much labor involved.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has asked Koenig to use the new laser technology for its project known as Skin B. The study involves understanding the mechanisms of aging which have been known to be slower on Earth yet considerably faster in weightless environments.
Koenig said both the ESA and their American counterpart, NASA, contacted them regarding the possibility of studying the effects of staying in space on the skin of astronauts. He said that many of the space agencies' astronauts often complain about skin issues after their six-month mission in space.
Koenig and his team have examined the skin of three astronauts so far before and after they went to space. These astronauts are Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano of Italy and Alexander Gerst of Germany.
ESA astronaut Cristoforetti was scanned before she made her spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) back in November of 2014. By the time she returned to Earth on June 11, Cristoforetti's 199-day stay on the ISS gave her the record for the single longest stay in space by a woman. Her skin cells were then re-scanned by the Saarland scientists, who analyzed the differences between skin physiology on Earth and on the ISS.
The researchers discovered that the three astronauts exhibited a strong production of collagen in their skin throughout the course of their space mission. This suggests that there is some form of anti-aging phenomenon that occurs in the dermis. Koenig said that the findings point to a shrinking of the epidermis' living cells, which is why the skin of the astronauts becomes thinner.
While the cause of this phenomenon is yet to be determined, Koenig said that they are waiting for the other astronauts to discover more information on their end so that they can develop ways to prevent the thinning of the skin from happening. The Saarland scientists said they will also continue to study this mysterious occurrence further.
Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | Flickr
