How Health Data is Collected in Space Missions?

For decades, space exploration has pushed the boundaries of human knowledge, allowing us to better understand our universe. The International Space Station (ISS), which has been orbiting Earth since 1998, serves as a unique research laboratory, facilitating countless scientific advancements. Among the most critical aspects of space research is the focus on astronaut health and well-being.

The first human medical data from space was recorded during Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight on April 12, 1961. As the first human to journey into outer space, Gagarin’s physiological responses were closely monitored. His mission provided invaluable insights into how the human body reacts to microgravity and extreme conditions. Over the years, space agencies have developed sophisticated methods to collect, analyze, and transmit astronauts’ health data in real-time.

Let’s explore how astronaut health data is collected and analyzed across three phases of a mission: pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight.

Pre-Flight Health Research Data Collection

Before launch, astronauts undergo extensive medical assessments to establish baseline health metrics. These include cardiovascular fitness, cognitive testing, psychological evaluations, and body composition analysis. Pre-flight data sets the foundation for monitoring health changes that occur during the mission.

The EXPAND database, developed by Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) and TrialX in collaboration, integrates and securely stores these baseline records alongside in-flight and post-flight data. This continuity of information enables researchers to compare changes across different stages of spaceflight.

Pre-flight preparation may also include:

• Training on self-administered diagnostic tools:

Astronauts are trained to use diagnostic devices such as ultrasound machines and blood glucose monitors, enabling them to track their health autonomously while in space.

• Familiarization with wearable technology:

Crew members are introduced to wearable devices, such as Garmin smartwatches and BioMonitors, that continuously monitor vital signs and other key health metrics during the mission.

Health Research Data Collection During Space Missions

Astronauts rely on biomedical monitoring systems to track their health in real time and conduct detailed physiological assessments during space missions. The in-flight data collection process involves the following:

1. Continuous Monitoring with Wearable Sensors

Wearable devices such as smartwatches, biosensors, and advanced medical monitors are integral in continuously tracking astronaut health during missions, offering a comprehensive view of their physiological well-being. These devices collect vital health metrics, including heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), body temperature, sleep patterns, physical activity, and stress levels. 

For instance, Garmin smartwatches, used in the Polaris Dawn mission, track key parameters like heart rate, activity levels, and sleep quality, offering valuable insights into astronauts’ cardiovascular health and physical fitness in space. These devices are essential in monitoring how astronauts’ bodies adapt to the unique challenges of space travel, such as microgravity’s effects on the cardiovascular system.

BioButton by BioIntelliSense, used in Polaris Dawn and Fram2 missions, continuously monitors heart rate variability, temperature, respiratory rate, and posture. This small, adhesive sensor offers real-time health data in a discrete, non-invasive form, making it ideal for space missions where portability and comfort are paramount. By tracking these physiological metrics, BioButton allows mission control to assess an astronaut’s well-being throughout the mission and respond proactively to any changes or concerns.

Other wearable devices like Hexoskin smart shirts, Bio-Monitor system, Oura ring, Polar H10 heart rate monitor, and eye-tracking devices also contribute to continuous health monitoring in space. These devices provide invaluable data that helps researchers understand astronaut health dynamics in space, from cardiovascular function to stress adaptation.

To explore more on how personal health devices and wearables are advancing space health research, check out our latest blog here.

2.  Periodic Health Assessments with Portable Devices

In addition to continuous monitoring, astronauts periodically perform self-administered medical tests using portable diagnostic tools. These allow for in-depth examinations when needed.

• Butterfly iQ Ultrasound: A handheld ultrasound device that connects to a tablet or smartphone, enabling astronauts to conduct real-time imaging of organs and tissues in space.

One important way ultrasound is used in space research is to detect tiny gas bubbles in the blood, known as venous gas emboli (VGE). These bubbles can increase the risk of decompression sickness (DCS), which is a concern for astronauts when they move between different pressure environments, like during spacewalks or simulated walks on other planets. By using a type of ultrasound called precordial Doppler, scientists can monitor these bubbles in real time. This helps them test and improve breathing routines and oxygen strategies to reduce the risk of DCS.

• Blood Pressure and Glucose Monitors: Used to track cardiovascular health and metabolic function over time.
• EXPAND iPad App: Used during the Polaris Dawn mission, the EXPAND App enabled astronauts to complete nearly 30+ in-flight surveys assessing cognitive function, emotional well-being, sleep, and behavioral changes. The app also synced with wearable devices to provide more real-time insights on astronauts’ health in space.

3.  Environmental Monitoring for Risk Prevention

​Ensuring astronaut safety and well-being during space missions necessitates continuous environmental monitoring to mitigate potential health risks. Spacecraft environments present unique challenges, including exposure to cosmic radiation and maintaining optimal atmospheric conditions. Implementing advanced monitoring systems is crucial for identifying and addressing these challenges effectively.​

• Radiation Monitoring: 

Space radiation poses a significant threat to astronauts, with levels up to 15 times higher than on Earth. To assess and manage this risk, the European Space Agency (ESA) initiated the DOSIS-3D project aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This project employs both active and passive radiation detectors strategically placed throughout the Columbus Laboratory to map radiation levels and understand how cosmic radiation penetrates the station’s walls. The data collected is vital for developing protective measures against radiation exposure during extended missions. ​

During the Polaris Dawn mission, which traveled to a 500 km orbit—the farthest since Apollo—EXPAND was used to support radiation monitoring efforts. Dr. Stuart George and his team collected in-flight radiation data to better understand the space radiation profile at this higher altitude, significantly different from that of the ISS. The data, now housed in the EXPAND database, will also be analyzed in radiosensitive experiments and help shape future mission planning to minimize radiation exposure.

• Atmospheric Monitoring: Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA)

Maintaining a habitable environment within the spacecraft requires precise control of atmospheric composition. The Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) is a mass spectrometer-based system on the ISS that continuously measures the major atmospheric constituents, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, and water vapor. This real-time monitoring ensures that life-support systems can adjust to maintain safe and breathable air for the crew. 

4.  Data Transmission & Analysis

Once collected, health data from space must be reliably transmitted to Earth for monitoring, analysis, and decision-making. This transmission relies on robust digital communication protocols and global infrastructure to ensure accuracy and data integrity, even across vast distances and intermittent connections.

Health data is categorized into two main types:

• Real-Time Data: Continuous streams of vital signs like heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure, sent directly to mission control for immediate assessment.
  
• Stored Data: Periodic health metrics logged onboard and downlinked in batches during scheduled communication windows.
  

All data transmissions—whether real-time or stored—travel through NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), a global array of ground-based antennas in California, Madrid, and Canberra. These stations maintain constant contact with orbiting spacecraft, ensuring uninterrupted data flow. Transmission protocols like the CCSDS Space Packet Protocol structure data into timestamped packets, enabling accurate reconstruction and automatic retransmission in case of signal loss.

Once received, the data is processed and analyzed at mission control, helping medical teams evaluate astronaut health and respond quickly to any changes.

A key advancement in this pipeline is the EXPAND Database and Biorepository—the first open, standards-based archive built for commercial spaceflight research. Since 2021, the platform has securely stored over a million data points, supporting cross-mission analytics, biospecimen tracking, and integration with EHRs and wearable devices, setting the foundation for long-term space health research.

The EXPAND database is also playing a vital role in the recent Fram2 mission, the first all-civilian spaceflight to launch into a polar orbit. TRISH-supported studies on Fram2 have gathered cognitive, physiological, genomic, and radiation data using devices like the Garmin smartwatch and BioButton. All datasets will be securely stored in the EXPAND database, helping researchers better understand how the human body responds to and recovers from deep space travel.

To learn more about the EXPAND database and how TrialX is transforming space health research, check out our latest blog here.

Post-Mission Data Collection & Processing: What Happens to Astronaut Health Data After the Mission?

Once astronauts return to Earth, postflight data collection begins immediately—often within minutes of splashdown. These early sessions capture critical physiological and psychological responses to Earth’s gravity, forming the foundation for long-term health monitoring. Follow-up assessments continue over days, weeks, and even years to track recovery and identify lasting effects of spaceflight.

Data from wearable sensors, diagnostic tools, environmental monitoring systems, and behavioral assessments—such as those captured through the EXPAND App—is securely retrieved and archived at research facilities like NASA’s Life Sciences Data Archive (LSDA), ESA’s Space Medicine Team, and TRISH. Through the EXPAND Data Portal, researchers can browse datasets from multiple space missions, select those relevant to their work, and submit access requests to support their investigations. This centralized access enables long-term studies on space health, astronaut adaptation, and other mission-critical topics.

To understand the full effects of spaceflight, researchers conduct comprehensive analyses across pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight health data. These comparative studies help reveal how the human body adapts to space and recovers upon return. Post-mission medical checkups, sometimes spanning years, are essential to identifying long-term changes and guiding future countermeasures.

The knowledge gained fuels advancements in:

• Medical protocols for space crews
  
• AI-driven health monitoring technologies
  
• Planning for long-duration missions like Artemis, Gateway Lunar Station, and Mars expeditions.

TrialX: Powering Space Health Research with Data-Driven Innovation

From the first all-civilian spaceflight, Inspiration4, to the recent Fram2 mission into polar orbit, the EXPAND platform has been at the forefront of capturing and managing critical health data in space. By supporting pre-flight, in-flight monitoring, and post-mission analysis, the EXPAND database is helping researchers study the effects of spaceflight on the human body across missions and time. 

As commercial space exploration accelerates, TrialX remains committed to advancing space health research through secure, scalable, and interoperable data solutions.

Explore how TrialX is helping drive the future of biomedical innovation on Earth and beyond. Learn more here.