Scientists to study ISS-bound astronauts to find anti-aging solution for Mars missions

Health experts from US-based Mayo Clinic have a new project in hand, which is to study astronauts flying to International Station (ISS) under a collaborative mission between NASA and Axiom . Named Ax-1, mission is slated for launch on February 28 and will carry four astronauts to ISS for an eight days-stay. This mission will serve as a testbed for Mayo Clinic as y aim to study ing process of astronauts, which according to scientists will shoot up significantly if y travel to Mars.

Scarily eugh, scientists have revealed that astronauts, who will embark on a 348 million kilometre journey to Mars, would faster than people on Earth. y argue that this is an issue that must be resolved to make humans ready for long-term missions. Although Ax-1 astronauts would t stay long eugh to tice any change, Mayo Clinic scientists say that tracing even earliest of signs can help solve problem of accelerated ing in astronauts.

Under ir study, scientists will look for signs of senescence, under which cells stop dividing after a certain and build up as tissues. four astronauts of Ax-1 flight will be observed before and after ir mission to determine if crew members developed any signs. Shedding more light on study, Dr James Kirkland said as per Daily Mail-

If we see senescence under se conditions, we would want to do some work in preparation for a longer mission. This flight will give us an idea of wher routine flight, without even going beyond Van Allen belt, is associated with cell senescence.

Dr Kirkland added that if any signs are detected, y would definitely work towards finding a solution before interplanetary flights become feasible. He said that while just a trip to ISS won’t cause much dam to astronauts’ health, real worry is trips to Mars where humans will also be exposed to atomic radiation owing to solar flares. Apart from ir own study, experts are also sending isolated human cells in a pre-senescent state to ISS to determine if y undergo any effects.

Upon reaching station, cells will be exposed to conditions such as zero gravity, solar radiation and a high carbon dioxide atmosphere, effects of which will be ted to determine if flight causes cellular ing. Interestingly, authors of study have revealed that y are already working on drugs kwn as selytics, which are under clinical trials and have potential to cure senescence. 

NASA-Axiom heading towards launch

Crew of Ax-1 is ready to liftoff on February 28 from Kennedy Center in Florida. Consisting of four members, team will hitch a ride in X’s Dragon capsule for a mission that will last for eight days. A completely private mission, Axiom's first customers include Larry Conr, a real estate and tech entrepreneur from Dayton, Ohio, Canadian financier Mark Pathy and Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe and former NASA astronaut  Michael Lopez-Alegria.

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