A groundbreaking scientific endeavor bound for the International Space Station aims to conduct experiments on drugs and medications for potential use by astronauts on future voyages to Mars. Collaborating with a space health company based in Lithuania, the UK is spearheading these innovative experiments to assess how selected medicines react to extended exposure to cosmic radiation in space. If successful, these medicines could be vital for astronauts embarking on Mars missions.
Scientist Dominykas Milašius emphasized the significance of venturing into Mars as the next frontier and the importance of utilizing near space as an exploration environment to safeguard astronauts and crew on lengthy missions. He highlighted the UK’s strong focus on life sciences and space exploration as a conducive backdrop for partnerships like theirs to contribute valuable expertise and undertake joint missions.
During a Mars mission lasting approximately three years with no resupply or pharmacy backup, the survival of every tablet and drug becomes critical. The UK Space Agency, in collaboration with Cambridge firm LinkGevity, is collaborating with Delta Biosciences, a Lithuania-based space health company co-founded by Milašius. Medicines developed on Earth are shielded by the planet’s atmosphere and magnetic field, but in deep space, exposure to cosmic rays and solar events poses significant risks to both astronauts and the efficacy of medications.
Research has shown that radiation can drastically reduce the shelf life of certain drugs, creating potentially catastrophic scenarios on Mars missions without the ability to resupply or evacuate. Milašius stressed the necessity of developing a comprehensive medical kit for Mars missions that ensures the effectiveness of medicines throughout the entire journey.
The challenges of space medicine are evident, with drugs susceptible to weakening, failure, or chemical alterations in the absence of Earth’s protective shield. The impact of cosmic radiation extends beyond human cells to the molecular structure of medications, with liquid emergency drugs like adrenaline particularly vulnerable to degradation. Some medicines may degrade over time, losing potency or forming unexpected chemical byproducts under space conditions.
To address these concerns, experts are rigorously testing medicines in space and formulating them with radiation-resistant properties. The goal is to prevent astronauts from carrying a medical kit that may cease to function millions of miles away from Earth, underscoring the critical role of advanced drug development in space exploration.