What is the EXPAND Database and How is it Transforming Space Health Research?

Space health research has long been a cornerstone of human spaceflight, helping astronauts mitigate the risks of microgravity, radiation exposure, and other extreme conditions. With commercial space travel becoming a reality and long-duration missions on the horizon, the need for structured, accessible biomedical data has never been more critical. Managing clinical data from space missions presents unique challenges, from collecting diverse physiological and environmental data to ensuring its seamless integration for research.

The Origin of the EXPAND Database

In 2021, TrialX was selected by the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) to build the EXPAND Database and Biorepository—a first-of-its-kind platform designed to collect research, flight, and relevant clinical data from future commercial spaceflight missions. Drawing on our extensive experience in building clinical trial solutions, we quickly customized our existing remote data collection platform to meet the unique needs of the EXPAND program.

The EXPAND Database serves as a secure and scalable system for data collection, management, and analysis. It integrates seamlessly with health monitoring devices and sensors, enabling real-time data capture while adhering to stringent security standards. Designed to handle large and complex datasets, including genomic data, the platform supports diverse data types across numerous research studies. 

How the EXPAND Database is Advancing Space Health Research

The EXPAND Database is a comprehensive repository for biomedical data gathered from commercial spaceflight missions, including data from civilian astronauts. Until now, much of space health research data has been fragmented, making it difficult to analyze and apply to future missions. The database centralizes this information, creating a structured and accessible resource for researchers worldwide.

Working closely in partnership with TRISH and leveraging our expertise in decentralized clinical trials, TrialX ensures that the EXPAND Database provides:

• A Centralized Data Hub – Researchers can access a vast collection of space health studies, physiological data, and experimental results from past and ongoing missions.
  
  
• Seamless Integration with Multiple Data Sources – The EXPAND database is designed to effortlessly collect and store data from a wide range of sources. This includes health monitoring devices such as the Butterfly iQ+ ultrasound, Garmin wearables, and BioButton, as well as diverse surveys administered through EXPAND Mission Apps, including instruments like Essential Measures.
  
  
• Cross-Mission Research Opportunities – Through the EXPAND Data Portal, researchers can explore and select datasets from multiple space missions for analysis. This centralized access enables long-term studies on space health, astronaut adaptation, and other mission-critical topics. Researchers can browse available datasets, select those relevant to their work, and submit access requests to support their investigations.

The EXPAND Database: A Goldmine of Space Health Data

The EXPAND database consolidates crucial health data from Spaceflight Participants across multiple commercial space missions, helping shape the future of human spaceflight. Though still growing, it already supports:

These early contributions form a foundational dataset for long-term research into astronaut health, performance, and deep-space adaptation.

Types of Data Supported by the EXPAND Database

The EXPAND database integrates diverse data types, including:

• Surveys – Capturing astronauts’ experiences and health assessments.
• Wearable Data – Monitoring heart rate, oxygen levels, and other biometrics.
• Posture and Motion Data – Tracking movement patterns in microgravity.
• Ocular Measurements – Autorefraction data for vision analysis.
• Ultrasound and Biospecimen Data – Insights into physiological changes.
• Genomic Data – Understanding long-term effects of space travel.
• Flight and Environmental Data – Ensuring a comprehensive study of space conditions.
• Clinical Records – Documenting astronaut health before, during, and after missions.

Key Space Missions Contributing to the EXPAND Database

The EXPAND Database has been instrumental in collecting data from some of the most significant commercial space missions, including:

• Inspiration 4 (2021): Cognition, Posture, Ultrasound, Telemetry, DNA/RNA Sequences, Wearables (Apple Watch)
  
• MS-20 (2021): Cognition, Posture, Autorefractor data, Wearables (Apple Watch)
  
• Axiom-1 (2022): Cognition, Posture, Autorefractive, Wearables (Apple Watch)
  
• Axiom-2 (2023): Cognition, Posture & Motion, Space Omics, Field Test Data, TRISH Essential Measures, Wearables (Garmin, Bio Button, Apple Watch)
  
• Axiom-3 (2024): Cognition, Posture, TRISH Essential Measures, Wearables (Garmin, Bio Button)
  
• Polaris Dawn (2024): Cognition, Posture, Ocular, SANS Surveillance, Field Test, Ultrasound, Space Omics , Radiation Measurement, TRISH Essential Measures, Wearables (Garmin, Bio Button)

EXPAND Database in Action: The Fram2 Mission

One of the most recent applications of the EXPAND Database is its role in the Fram2 mission,  the first polar-orbit human spaceflight mission designed to explore the polar regions of Earth from new heights. As part of this all-civillian space mission, TRISH at Baylor College of Medicine, in partnership with Caltech and MIT, is conducting a series of biomedical experiments aimed at advancing space health research..

The mission will conduct six key health and performance studies, including:

• Cognitive and Physiologic Responses – Tracking cognitive performance, memory, and spatial orientation using Garmin smartwatches and BioIntelliSense BioButton® devices.
  
• Radiation Monitoring – Measuring exposure levels at 450km altitude to assess health risks for deep-space travel.
  
• Genomic and BioBanking Studies – Collecting pre- and post-flight biosamples to analyze genetic changes triggered by spaceflight.
  
• Sensorimotor Adaptation – Studying balance, movement, and post-flight recovery for moon and Mars missions.

All these studies contribute to the EXPAND Database, enabling researchers to track trends, compare findings across missions, and refine countermeasures for spaceflight-related health risks.

The Future of Space Health Research with the EXPAND Database

As space exploration advances, the need for robust research tools like the EXPAND Database will only grow. With commercial space travel on the rise and missions to the Moon and Mars on the horizon, having a centralized platform for space health research is essential for astronaut safety and mission success.

Through our partnership with TRISH and our commitment to innovation, TrialX continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space health research. By transforming how data is collected, analyzed, and applied, the EXPAND Database is paving the way for groundbreaking research that will enhance astronaut health and deepen our understanding of human physiology in space.

To learn more about our remote data collection platform powering the EXPAND Database and other clinical research initiatives, visit here.