Mechanobiological Implications of Cancer Progression in Space

The human body is normally adapted to maintain homeostasis in a terrestrial environment. The novel conditions of a space environment introduce challenges that changes the cellular response to its surroundings. Such an alteration causes physical changes in the extracellular microenvironment, inducing the secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β) from cancer cells to enhance cancer malignancy. Cancer is one of the most prominent cell types to be affected by mechanical cues via active interaction with the tumor microenvironment. However, the mechanism by which cancer cells mechanotransduce in the space environment, as well as the influence of this process on human health, have not been fully elucidated. Due to the growing interest in space biology, this article reviews cancer cell responses to the representative conditions altered in space: microgravity, decompression, and irradiation. Interestingly, cytokine and gene expression that assist in tumor survival, invasive phenotypic transformation, and cancer cell proliferation are upregulated when exposed to both simulated and actual space conditions. The necessity of further research on space mechanobiology such as simulating more complex in vivo experiments or finding other mechanical cues that may be encountered during spaceflight are emphasized.

Deep Membrane Proteome Profiling of Rat Hippocampus in Simulated Complex Space Environment by SWATH

Despite the development and great progress in the field of space biology, the astronauts are still facing many challenges in space. The space environment in which astronauts stay includes microgravity, noise, circadian rhythms disorder, and confinement, which has deep effect both on the physiology and psychology of astronauts. It was reported that long-term flight could cause the astronauts’ anxiety and depression. However, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood. Therefore, in the present study, the rat tail suspension model with noise, circadian rhythms, and confinement was employed to simulate complex space environment. We found that the rats exhibited the depressive-like behavior by the sucrose preference, forced swimming, and open-field tests. The membrane proteome of the rat hippocampus was investigated by “SWATH quantitation” technology both in control and simulated complex space environment (SCSE) groups. Out of 4520 quantified proteins, 244 differentially expressed membrane proteins were obtained between the SCSE and control rats, which were functionally enriched in a series of biological processes, such as translation, protein phosphorylation, brain development, endocytosis, nervous system development, axonogenesis, and vesicle-mediated transport. We found a reduction level of neurexin-2, the light, medium, heavy polypeptide of neurofilament, rab 18, synaptogyrin 1, and syntaxin-1A and an increase level of neuroligin-1, munc18, snapin, synaptotagmin XII, complexin-1, etc., which may play a key part in the development of depression. Furthermore, GSK-3β protein was upregulated in mass spectrometry, which was further validated by western blotting. The results of the study do the favor in designing the effective countermeasures for the astronauts in the future long-term spaceflight.

Space Biology Research and Biosensor Technologies: Past, Present, and Future

In light of future missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) and the potential establishment of bases on the Moon and Mars, the effects of the deep space environment on biology need to be examined in order to develop protective countermeasures. Although many biological experiments have been performed in space since the 1960s, most have occurred in LEO and for only short periods of time. These LEO missions have studied many biological phenomena in a variety of model organisms, and have utilized a broad range of technologies. However, given the constraints of the deep space environment, upcoming deep space biological missions will be largely limited to microbial organisms and plant seeds using miniaturized technologies. Small satellites such as CubeSats are capable of querying relevant space environments using novel, miniaturized instruments and biosensors. CubeSats also provide a low-cost alternative to larger, more complex missions, and require minimal crew support, if any. Several have been deployed in LEO, but the next iterations of biological CubeSats will travel beyond LEO. They will utilize biosensors that can better elucidate the effects of the space environment on biology, allowing humanity to return safely to deep space, venturing farther than ever before.

A Rapid Fabrication Methodology for Payload Modules, Piloted for the Observation of Queen Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Microgravity

Microgravity experiment modules for living organisms have been instrumental to space research, yet their design remains complex and costly. As the private space sector enables more widely available payloads for researchers, it is increasingly necessary to design experimental modules innovatively so that they are proportionately accessible. To ease this bottleneck, we developed a rapid fabrication methodology for producing custom modules compatible with commercial payload slots. Our method creates a unified housing geometry, based on a given component layout, which is fabricated in a digital design and subtractive manufacturing process from a single lightweight foam material. This module design demonstrated a 25–50% reduction in chassis weight compared with existing models, and is extremely competitive in manufacturing time, simplicity, and cost. To demonstrate the ability to capture data on previously limited areas of space biology, we apply this methodology to create an autonomous, video-enabled module for sensing and observing queen and retinue bees aboard the Blue Origin New Shepard 11 (NS-11) suborbital flight. To explore whether spaceflight impacts queen fitness, results used high-definition visual data enabled by the module's compact build to analyze queen-worker regulation under microgravity stress (n = 2, with controls). Overall, this generalizable method for constructing experimental modules provides wider accessibility to space research and new data on honey bee behavior in microgravity.

Advances in space science and technology in connection with 60−th anniversary of first human spaceflight

On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin proclaimed the arrival of a new space age. The rapid advances in the different space sciences and technologies began after the first human spaceflight. Then fundamentally new sciences and technologies appeared. At present, space science covers a broad range of disciplines. The following outline is provided as an overview and topical guide to space sciences: Astronomy and Space Astronomy, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Space Physics, Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Aeronomy, Solar physics, Heliospheric Physics, Cosmic Ray Physics, Space Weather and Space Climate (Earth-Space Climatology), Space Dosimetry, Space Chemistry or Cosmochemistry, Remote Sensing of the Earth and Planets, Planetary Science, Planetary Geology, Astrogeology or Exogeology, Exoplanetology or Exoplanetary Science (Science for Extrasolar Planetary Systems), Intelligent Life in the Universe, Astronautics (or Cosmonautics), Orbital mechanics or Astrodynamics, Space life sciences: Bioastronautics, Space Medicine, Space Neuroscience, Space Biology, Radiation Biology, Biotechnology, Space Botany or Astrobotany, Microgravity Environment Research; Archaeoastronomy, Space Anthropology, Xeno-anthropology (Exo-anthropology), Space Law, Space Technology, Space Navigation, Space Communications, Space Architecture, Space Logistics, Space Robotics, Space Robotic Colonies, Space Colonization (also called Space Settlement or Extraterrestrial Colonization), Planetary Habitability, Space Manufacturing, Space Materials Science, Satellite Industry, Space Business, Space Tourism, Space Hardware, Space Industry, and Space Ecology. With the help of these advanced space sciences humankind began confidently the exploration of space. But these studies led also to numerous new technologies and applications to improve people's lives. Finally, we mention again Yuri Gagarin and his cosmic heritage. He left behind an inspirational legacy, which even today still continues to motivate millions of people worldwide.

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM «HUMAN IN SPACE» TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT

The 23rd International «Human in Space» Symposium, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the first human flight into space, was organized jointly on the initiative and with the organizational support of the IBMP RAS by the International Academy of Astronautics and the State Space Corporation «ROSCOSMOS», with the participation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Symposium was held in Moscow from April 5 to April 8, 2021 in a hybrid format – more than 160 participants were present in the halls in person, and about 400 delegates connected online. On the basis of the Zoom Webinar platform, a single online resource was created with access to a personal account, allowing to participate in plenary and parallel breakout sessions. In five days, 8 plenary sessions were held (27 plenary reports were presented), four round tables were conducted on topical issues of space exploration, and 25 sessions on various aspects of space medicine and biology were held. In total, there were more than 240 oral reports and about 50 short reports (from 23 countries, including Russia, the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, China, etc.). The Institute has gained new experience in organizing events in such format, which provides a unique opportunity to expand contacts and network of interaction between specialists from different branches of science and technology around the world in the interests of further development of space biology and medicine. Such interaction serves as a necessary basis for the preparation and implementation of further steps for deep space exploration.