Musculoskeletal research in human space flight – unmet needs for the success of crewed deep space exploration

Liphardt AM, Fernandez-Gonzalo R, Albracht K, Rittweger J, Vico L (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

npj microgravity

Book Volume: 9

Article Number: 9

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00258-3

Abstract

Based on the European Space Agency (ESA) Science in Space Environment (SciSpacE) community White Paper “Human Physiology – Musculoskeletal system”, this perspective highlights unmet needs and suggests new avenues for future studies in musculoskeletal research to enable crewed exploration missions. The musculoskeletal system is essential for sustaining physical function and energy metabolism, and the maintenance of health during exploration missions, and consequently mission success, will be tightly linked to musculoskeletal function. Data collection from current space missions from pre-, during-, and post-flight periods would provide important information to understand and ultimately offset musculoskeletal alterations during long-term spaceflight. In addition, understanding the kinetics of the different components of the musculoskeletal system in parallel with a detailed description of the molecular mechanisms driving these alterations appears to be the best approach to address potential musculoskeletal problems that future exploratory-mission crew will face. These research efforts should be accompanied by technical advances in molecular and phenotypic monitoring tools to provide in-flight real-time feedback.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna-Maria Liphardt Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

Involved external institutions

Karolinska Institute SE Sweden (SE) Fachhochschule Aachen - Aachen University of Applied Sciences DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) / German Aerospace Center DE Germany (DE) Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Liphardt, A.-M., Fernandez-Gonzalo, R., Albracht, K., Rittweger, J., & Vico, L. (2023). Musculoskeletal research in human space flight – unmet needs for the success of crewed deep space exploration. npj microgravity, 9(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00258-3

MLA:

Liphardt, Anna-Maria, et al. "Musculoskeletal research in human space flight – unmet needs for the success of crewed deep space exploration." npj microgravity 9.1 (2023).

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