The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is conducting a significant investigation named Space Health, focusing on the effects of spaceflight on cardiovascular health. Utilizing wearable sensors known as Bio-Monitor, the study collects data on vital signs such as pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, skin temperature, and physical activity levels. Findings from this research could lead to the development of an autonomous system to monitor cardiovascular health during future space missions, with potential applications for heart health monitoring on Earth.
Additionally, a study titled Manual Control assesses how spaceflight impacts cognitive, sensory, and motor functions immediately after astronauts return to Earth. Tests reveal that astronauts experience notable impairments in fine motor skills and multitasking abilities upon landing, attributed to subtle physiological changes experienced during space travel. However, performance improves when astronauts engage in simulated tasks before actual operations, indicating that such practices could enhance safety during landings and early operations on the Moon and Mars.
The Standard Measures initiative collects extensive physical and mental health data related to human spaceflight risks. This includes a cognition test battery administered to astronauts before, during, and after their missions. Preliminary results from six-month missions show that astronauts generally maintain stable cognitive performance, with mild variations in processing speed, working memory, attention, and risk-taking behavior. This research, which includes the largest sample of professional astronauts published to date, aims to establish baseline data to identify cognitive changes in future missions and develop necessary countermeasures.