Grants and Contributions

UNDERSTANDING MICROGRAVITY-INDUCED BONE LOSS THROUGH IN VIVO SIMULATED MICROGRAVITY EXPERIMENTS
Following a space mission, astronauts experience severe bone thinning and increased risks of fracture when back on Earth. This anomaly is due to microgravity exposure. The aim of this study is to reproduce and expose fish larvae to a simulated microgravity on Earth, and to analyse the effects on the cells of the skeleton. Fish bones strongly resemble human bones in structure. They utilize similar cell types to secrete, mineralize and degrade bone matrix, and similar signaling pathways for cell-cell communication. Thus, fish are a good model to understand the causes underlying the microgravity-induced bone fragility observed in astronauts

EXTRACTING NOVEL INFORMATION FROM CANADIAN SPACE LIFE SCIENCE ASTRONAUT DATA
The current project will provide an opportunity for young, highly talented Canadian scientists to engage in data mining exercise that will leverage data collected from the CSA-supported projects BP Reg and Vascular. Novel hypotheses developed since these original studies can utilize spaceflight data to provide insights into blood pressure regulation and the effects of stiffer arteries on blood flow to the brain. Our results set the stage for applications of the CSA Bio-Monitor and advanced ultrasound technology to benefit astronauts in future long-duration exploration missions; and, they open opportunities to benefit health in the aging population on Earth.

IMPACTS OF LONG-TERM SPACE TRAVEL UPON ASTRONAUT HEALTH - ANALYSIS OF MARS500 CREW MICROBIOMES USING IMPROVED METAGENOMICS
The microbiome is intricately involved in human health. One concern in spaceflight is the potential negative impact of long-term habitat confinement upon microbiome health. The MARS500 project investigated this by sampling the microbiome of six astronauts over the longest ground-based confined habitat experiment conducted to-date. The project objective is to determine common microbiome changes in the crew of the MARS500 experiment. Improved metagenomic assessment technologies mean that significant differences in microbiome species can be identified over the 520-day experiment. Findings should reveal insight into the long-term impacts of spaceflight upon astronaut health and provide a unique view of confined environments.

DISTURBED FLUID DRAINAGE AROUND EYE - AN IMPORTANT MISSING PIECE IN THE PUZZLE OF VISION LOSS IN ASTRONAUTS?
Vision loss due to Space Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) is observed in many astronauts, is poorly understood and remains one of the most feared hazards of space flight. The loss of gravity causes fluid shifts and these disturbances around the eye may be an important piece of the puzzle. Novel non-invasive techniques will be used to examine eye and lymphatic fluid changes for the first time in a model of SANS. Discovering impaired entry and exit of fluid in and from around the eye will be an important step toward understanding and preventing vision loss from SANS in astronauts.

This grant will support the analysis of a sample of 23 nearby galaxies using data from the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on the ASTROSAT satellite. The team will also use maps from the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the combined images will provide the highest resolution view into these nearby galaxies. The goal is better understanding how stars form out of cold molecular gas in galaxies.

This grant will support the analysis of six southwest fields of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) obtained with AstroSat. It will also support the analysis of the August 2019 X-ray outburst of the millisecond pulsar SAX J1808-3658.

This grant will support the analysis of data obtained in Cycle 05 (and GT06) with AstroSat, to study star formation in the Coma cluster of galaxies. AstroSat provides unique, high spatial resolution imaging in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. Because the dominant contribution to ultraviolet emission in galaxies is from high-mass, short-lived stars, this light traces recent star formation. AstroSat enables us, for the first time, to identify how this star formation is distributed throughout nearby galaxies and to distinguish star formation from other sources of ultraviolet emission. This project will allow Canadian scientists to make a transformative study of the Coma cluster, establishing whether or not the large scale environment influences the nature of star formation in galaxies, a longstanding problem in astrophysics.

NASA has selected 10 international scientists to help the Mars 2020 mission select which rock samples it will collect. The grant is to support the participation of the only Canadian scientist chosen for this group.

The General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) is an optional program of the European Space Agency (ESA). The GSTP activities are aimed at the pre-development and, if needed, the space qualification of identified critical technologies required for future space projects.

The Future Earth Observation Program (Future EO), formerly known as the Earth Observation Envelope Program (EOEP) is an optional program of the European Space Agency (ESA). Future EO is the primary Earth observation program at ESA. It aims to develop knowledge of Earth and monitor its environment. The program supports science oriented Earth Explorer Missions, early development phases of Earth Watch and operational user-driven Earth Observation missions, and exploitation of the data generated.