Grants and Contributions

To optimize, consolidate, and expand the network of ground-based instruments deployed across Canada in order to make Canada a key partner in international space missions for increased space weather understanding. The instruments will collect auroral images, which will be openly available with minimal delay to Canadian and international scientists. This data will help better understand space weather phenomena, leading to an increased resilience of the Canadian critical infrastructure.

Wobbly legs, dizzy spells and even fainting experienced by astronauts on return to Earth are serious health and safety concerns. While a major part of this is the loss of the effect of gravity on the body, another may be related to being isolated in a small group. This results in stress which could result in reduced quality of life and health. This is not unlike what many of us experienced during the pandemic lock down. The HERA facility allows us to study how posture and cardiovascular function are affected in isolation to better protect astronauts and isolated older persons.

This project aims to advance the state of Reaction Dynamics’ (RDX) proprietary hybrid rocket technology for the production of an orbital transportation system. The project will focus on providing a technology demonstration of RDX’s orbital hybrid engine (RE-20X) in an in-flight configuration. The flight demonstration includes the key hybrid rocket technologies achieving in-space flight capability. Objectives of this project include: validation to TRL 7 of the fluid systems, hybrid thrust chamber, and avionics control of the propulsion system. Activities supporting the objectives include: integrating the hybrid engine, modifying and integrating the avionics, adapting the fluid systems, and performing an integrated stage test. Reaction Dynamics is in a unique position with respect to this project as being itself a launch provider. The demonstration aims for commercial orbital launches using the demonstrated systems and rapid growth.

Rock chemistries measured on Mars essentially represent their integrated histories and include contributions from
their igneous starting materials and possibly include sedimentary processes or secondary alteration. Lastly, airfall
dust variably covers rock surfaces. This proposal addresses three of these possible contributions (dust, igneous
precursor, and secondary alteration) to rock compositions analyzed by the mars 2020 rover in Jezero Crater by
micro-textural geochemical and mineralogical data. These studies will aid in achieving the Mars 2020 mission goals
of assessing the Jezero rocks for potential habitability for endolithic lithotrophs and to aid in sample selection.

Decreased foot sole skin input significantly reduces lower limb muscle activity, affecting balance and navigation in our environment. The research team has shown that short duration space flight alters the sensitivity of these foot sole skin receptors. These changes were significantly correlated to deficits in balance control. The current Head Down Bed Rest model isolates the impact of body unloading as a mechanism for these sensory changes. The research team aims to understand how the unloading triggers changes in skin feedback and whether countermeasures will reduce or eliminate these changes. This work will have a major impact on astronaut health and mobility and has significant implications for healthy aging on Earth.

The Achilles tendon is critical to walking, yet can be impaired after long period of immobility or lack of gravity, in space or on earth. Our study aims to investigate whether artificial gravity can reduce the effect from lack of gravity on the Achilles tendon, and explore whether male or female respond differently to artificial gravity.

Muscle wasting occurs in consequence to pathological conditions, including aging (sarcopenia). In space, healthy astronauts experience severe wasting of the anti-gravity muscles, the muscles that are normally engaged on Earth to maintain posture. Adjunct therapies are required to mitigate the risk of muscle wasting to enable human exploration of space. In this proposal, the research team use genetic tools in the mouse to reveal how protein synthesis, a major determinant of muscle mass, is remodeled in aging mice. Understanding how protein synthesis is remodeled under conditions of muscle wasting on Earth and in space is the first step towards identifying drug targets.

Following a space mission, astronauts experience severe bone thinning and increased risks of fracture when back on Earth. This bone anomaly is due to the exposure to an environment with reduced gravitational forces, namely microgravity. The aim of this study is to reproduce the microgravity environment on Earth using a ground-based instrument. Researchers will expose fish larvae to a simulated microgravity environment and analyse the effects on bone cells in the skeleton. The counter measure of vibration will also be examined separately and in combination with microgravity. The objectives of the study are to understand the cellular responses to these treatments in order to understand the microgravity induced bone loss observed in astronauts and to understand how to reduce these effects with vibration exposures. Fish bones strongly resemble human bones, in that the same cells are present, therefore these results will be relevant to humans.

Space anemia is well-documented, but we don’t fully understand the cause. This study will analyze the red blood cell data of American and Canadian astronauts over the past 50 years in order to further characterize space anemia. The causes of anemia may be multiple and studying the complete blood profiles of astronauts provide a unique perspective to explain the increased red blood cell destruction in space. Astronauts, space tourists, and bedridden people on Earth remain at risk for anemia. This project will add to the growing body of research with the hopes of discovering effective ways to mitigate this risk.

Light-headedness and fainting occurs when the cardiovascular system is unable to maintain arterial pressures during rapid changes in posture, such as standing up from a horizontal position. Some astronauts experience such symptoms after returning to Earth from space and the underlying factors are still poorly understood. The research team will analyze data from the recent CIHR-based Bed Rest Study of 55-65-year-old men and women wich they propose can provide information on how the blood supply to the brain is related to fainting. The results will be an important step towards the prevention of fainting in astronauts and people on Earth.