Is Human Enhancement in Space a Moral Duty? Missions to Mars, Advanced AI and Genome Editing in Space

Reinvigorated public interest in human space exploration has led to the need to address the science and engineering challenges described by NASA's Space Technology Grand Challenges (STGCs) for expanding the human presence in space. Here we define Space Bioprocess Engineering (SBE) as a multi-disciplinary approach to design, realize, and manage a biologically-driven space mission as it relates to addressing the STGCs for advancing technologies to support the nutritional, medical, and incidental material requirements that will sustain astronauts against the harsh conditions of interplanetary transit and habitation offworld. SBE combines synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering under extreme constraints to enable and sustain a biological presence in space. Here we argue that SBE is a critical strategic area enabling long-term human space exploration; specify the metrics and methods that guide SBE technology life-cycle and development; map an approach by which SBE technologies are matured on offworld testing platforms; and suggest a means to train the next generation spacefaring workforce on the SBE advantages and capabilities. In doing so, we outline aspects of the upcoming technical and policy hurdles to support space biomanufacturing and biotechnology. We outline a perspective marriage between space-based performance metrics and the synthetic biology Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle as they relate to advancing the readiness of SBE technologies. We call for a concerted effort to ensure the timely development of SBE to support long-term crewed missions using mission plans that are currently on the horizon.

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Space Bioprocess Engineering on the Horizon

10.20944/preprints202112.0401.v2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aaron Berliner ◽

Isaac Lipsky ◽

Davian Ho ◽

Jacob Hilzinger ◽

Gretchen Vengerova ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Synthetic Biology ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

Space Exploration ◽

Space Mission ◽

Space Technology ◽

Bioprocess Engineering ◽

Design Build ◽

Technology Life Cycle ◽

Human Space Exploration

Reinvigorated public interest in human space exploration has led to the need to address the science and engineering challenges described by NASA's Space Technology Grand Challenges (STGCs) for expanding the human presence in space. Here we define Space Bioprocess Engineering (SBE) as a multi-disciplinary approach to design, realize, and manage a biologically-driven space mission as it relates to addressing the STGCs for advancing technologies to support the nutritional, medical, and incidental material requirements that will sustain astronauts against the harsh conditions of interplanetary transit and habitation offworld. SBE combines synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering under extreme constraints to enable and sustain a biological presence in space. Here we argue that SBE is a critical strategic area enabling long-term human space exploration; specify the metrics and methods that guide SBE technology life-cycle and development; map an approach by which SBE technologies are matured on offworld testing platforms; and suggest a means to train the next generation spacefaring workforce on the SBE advantages and capabilities. In doing so, we outline aspects of the upcoming technical and policy hurdles to support space biomanufacturing and biotechnology. We outline a perspective marriage between space-based performance metrics and the synthetic biology Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle as they relate to advancing the readiness of SBE technologies. We call for a concerted effort to ensure the timely development of SBE to support long-term crewed missions using mission plans that are currently on the horizon.

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Long Term Space Program Scheduling and System Desi...

10.2514/6.iac-05-d1.3.05 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

G. Gaias ◽

S. Centuori ◽

M.R. Lavagna ◽

A Da Costa ◽

A.E. Finzi

Keyword(s):

Space Program

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Sustaining Space Exploration over the Long Term

57th International Astronautical Congress ◽

10.2514/6.iac-06-e3.1.b.03 ◽

2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peggy Finarelli ◽

Ian Pryke

Keyword(s):

Space Exploration

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CHARACTERISTICS OF POST-FLIGHT MUSCLE STRENGTH AND VELOCITY DYNAMICS IN COSMONAUTS AS A FUNCTION OF WEIGHT LOADING DURING LONG-TERM SPACE MISSIONS

Aerospace and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.21687/0233-528x-2020-54-5-23-28 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 23-28

Author(s):

E.V. Fomina ◽

◽

T.B. Kukoba ◽

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Body Mass ◽

Flight Muscle ◽

Space Mission ◽

The Body ◽

Maximum Strength ◽

Training Device ◽

Leg Muscle ◽

Weight Loading

Testing of 25 cosmonauts showed that the amount of resistance training weight loading in long-term space mission influences dynamics of the leg-muscle strength and velocity recovery. On Earth, the loads equal from 70 to 130 % of the body mass is sufficient for keeping up endurance and maximum strength moments of shin and thigh muscles. In the group of cosmonauts who had not used the strength training device or chosen loads less than 30 % of the body mass the leg-muscle maximum strength and thigh endurance were decreased substantially on day 4 of return and all the more by day 15 back on Earth.

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An advance in transfer line chilldown heat transfer of cryogenic propellants in microgravity using microfilm coating for enabling deep space exploration

npj Microgravity ◽

10.1038/s41526-021-00149-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

J. N. Chung ◽

Jun Dong ◽

Hao Wang ◽

S. R. Darr ◽

J. W. Hartwig

Keyword(s):

Space Exploration ◽

Fluid Management ◽

Microgravity Condition ◽

Space Mission ◽

Low Earth Orbit ◽

Earth Orbit ◽

Deep Space ◽

Deep Space Exploration ◽

Quenching Efficiency ◽

Proper Perspective

AbstractThe extension of human space exploration from a low earth orbit to a high earth orbit, then to Moon, Mars, and possibly asteroids is NASA’s biggest challenge for the new millennium. Integral to this mission is the effective, sufficient, and reliable supply of cryogenic propellant fluids. Therefore, highly energy-efficient thermal-fluid management breakthrough concepts to conserve and minimize the cryogen consumption have become the focus of research and development, especially for the deep space mission to mars. Here we introduce such a concept and demonstrate its feasibility in parabolic flights under a simulated space microgravity condition. We show that by coating the inner surface of a cryogenic propellant transfer pipe with low-thermal conductivity microfilms, the quenching efficiency can be increased up to 176% over that of the traditional bare-surface pipe for the thermal management process of chilling down the transfer pipe. To put this into proper perspective, the much higher efficiency translates into a 65% savings in propellant consumption.

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Persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances pose an equivalent level of concern to persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) substances under REACH

Environmental Sciences Europe ◽

10.1186/s12302-020-00440-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah E. Hale ◽

Hans Peter H. Arp ◽

Ivo Schliebner ◽

Michael Neumann

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Human Health ◽

Regulatory Decision ◽

Drinking Water Resources ◽

Trade Name ◽

Chemicals Regulation ◽

Range Transport ◽

High Concern ◽

Level Of Concern

Abstract Background Under the EU chemicals regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals EC 1907/2006), registrants are not obliged to provide information related to intrinsic substance properties for substances that pose a threat to the drinking water resources. In 2019, perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)-propanoic acid (HFPO-DA trade name GenX) were demonstrated to have an equivalent level of concern (ELoC) to persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (PBT/vPvB) substances owing to their persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) substance properties and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substance properties, respectively. They were both subsequently identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) applying Article 57(f) in REACH. This work follows up on this regulatory decision by presenting a science based, conceptual level comparison that all PMT/vPvM substances pose an ELoC to PBT/vPvB substances. Using the two cases named above, as well as 1,4-dioxane, 16 categories were developed to evaluate a) serious effects on human health, b) serious effects on the environment and c) additional effects. 1,4-dioxane has recently been proposed to be classified as Carcinogenic 1B by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC). The aim was to enable an objective and scientifically justified conclusion that these classes of substances have an equivalent level of concern for the environment and human health. Results In all of the categories related to human health, the environment and other effects, the PMT/vPvM case study substances exhibited comparable effects to PBT/vPvB substances. A difference in the human and environmental exposure pathways of PMT/vPvM and PBT/vPvB substances exists as they vary temporally and spatially. However, effects and impacts are similar, with PMT/vPvM substances potentially accumulating in (semi-)closed drinking water cycles and pristine aquatic environments, and PBT/vPvB substances accumulating in humans and the food chain. Both PMT/vPvM and PBT/vPvB substances share the common difficulty that long term and long-range transport and risk of exposure is very difficult to determine in advance and with sufficient accuracy. Conclusion The registration process of substances under REACH should reflect that PMT/vPvM substances pose an equivalent level of concern to PBT/vPvB substances.

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COVID-19 Shutdown: A Qualitative Study on Pearls and Pitfalls

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2021074004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 4

Author(s):

Naciye Güliz Uğur

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Human Health ◽

Social Distance ◽

The Other ◽

Adoption Of Technology ◽

Family Ties ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Modern Period ◽

Long Term Impact

The extraordinary and tragic conditions that humanity has not experienced before in the modern period have become ordinary, namely, a “new normal” with the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has had frightening consequences for human health and has caused one million deaths as of September 2020. On the other hand, it has set a new standard of good habits, approaches, and benefits. Due to its global and long-term impact, this unique virus has laid the groundwork for unprecedented helping and sharing behaviors between people and countries. In this study, findings are compiled from the open-ended responses of 626 individuals, all of whom live in Turkey. Within the study’s scope, individuals were asked about the unique advantages and disadvantages of the restrictions imposed under COVID-19. While the categories of economy, social distance, and health came to the fore among the harms, the strengthening of family ties, adoption of technology, and the spread of solidarity culture were mentioned among the advantages.

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Explosions and Human Health: The Long-Term Effects of Blast Injury

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x12000891 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 385-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sarah E. Finlay ◽

Michelle Earby ◽

David J. Baker ◽

Virginia S.G. Murray

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Blast Injury ◽

Mass Casualties ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Emergency Responders ◽

Response Strategies

AbstractThe immediate patterns of injury from explosions are well documented, from both military and civil experience. However, few studies have focused on less immediately apparent health consequences and latent effects of explosions in survivors, emergency responders and the surrounding community. This review aimed to analyze the risks to health following an explosion in a civil setting.A comprehensive review of the open literature was conducted, and data on 10 relevant military, civilian and industrial events were collected. Events were selected according to availability of published studies and involvement of large numbers of people injured. In addition, structured interviews with experts in the field were conducted, and existing national guidelines reviewed.The review revealed significant and potentially long-term health implications affecting various body systems and psychological well-being following exposure to an explosion. An awareness of the short- and long-term health effects of explosions is essential in screening for blast injuries, and identifying latent pathologies that could otherwise be overlooked in stressful situations with other visually distracting injuries and, often, mass casualties. Such knowledge would guide responsible medical staff in implementing early appropriate interventions to reduce the burden of long-term sequelae. Effective planning and response strategies would ensure accessibility of appropriate health care resources and evidence-based information in the aftermath of an explosion.Finlay SE, Earby M, Baker DJ, Murray VSG. Explosions and human health: the long-term effects of blast injury. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(4):1-7.

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