Radiation Exposure in Space: How Space Health Research Aims to Create Safer Long-Duration Missions
What’s the biggest health threat astronauts face beyond Earth’s orbit? It’s not zero gravity or isolation. It’s radiation. And understanding how to measure and manage it is key to the future of space health research.
On Earth, we’re shielded by the planet’s magnetic field, which protects us from harmful cosmic radiation. But once astronauts leave that protective bubble, they are constantly exposed to high-energy particles that can damage DNA, impair cognitive function, and increase the long-term risk of cancer.
Understanding and managing radiation exposure is a central goal of space health research, and it is a key focus of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the most research-intensive commercial mission to the International Space Station (ISS) so far. The international crew, which includes astronauts from the United States, India, Poland, and Hungary, is advancing multiple studies to monitor and reduce the effects of radiation during spaceflight.
Measuring Radiation Onboard the International Space Station: The RadMon Experiment
One of the primary tools being used for this mission is RadMon, a Scalable Radiation Monitor developed through the POLSA and ESA collaboration. Installed inside the Columbus module of the ISS, RadMon continuously tracks ambient radiation levels within the spacecraft environment.
Originally adapted from a version used at CERN‘s Large Hadron Collider, RadMon enables scientists to:
- Measure real-time radiation doses encountered during missions
- Improve current radiation exposure models for spacecraft environments
- Simulate the types of radiation astronauts will experience on future missions to the Moon and Mars
These insights are critical for developing next-generation shielding, improving spacecraft electronics, and enhancing astronaut safety protocols. They also directly support the goals of space health research by building the evidence base required to make long-duration missions feasible.
Personal Dosimetry with RANDAM: Wearable Health Devices in Space
Radiation exposure is not one-size-fits-all. Different crew members may experience different doses depending on their activity, location, and other variables. To address this, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu is testing the RANDAM device (RadNano Dosimeter Astronaut Module), developed under Hungary’s HUNOR program.
RANDAM is a miniaturized, wearable suite of sensors that measures:
- Personal radiation exposure
- Environmental parameters like humidity, temperature, CO₂, air pressure, and magnetic fields
- Ambient light levels throughout the International Space Station
This level of detail enables personalized radiation monitoring for each astronaut. The data collected not only supports real-time health assessments, but also informs future strategies for autonomous health management in space. As space health research advances, wearable tech like RANDAM will play a critical role in helping astronauts self-monitor during deep space missions with limited medical support.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, representing India on the Axiom-4 mission, is contributing to this research by actively testing the RANDAM device aboard the International Space Station. His participation highlights India’s growing role in commercial spaceflight and biomedical research. While ISRO is not directly involved in the Ax-4 radiation experiments, this mission marks a significant step in India’s contribution to commercial spaceflight and biomedical research.
DNA Repair in Space: Studying Fruit Flies to Understand Radiation Effects
Radiation exposure impacts astronauts by disrupting their cellular biology, including DNA repair and regeneration processes. One experiment on Ax-4, led by Hungarian researchers, focuses on how fruit flies respond to space radiation. These tiny organisms are known for their remarkable ability to detect and repair DNA damage.
By studying their response to radiation in microgravity, researchers aim to:
- Understand how radiation accelerates aging at the cellular level
- Discover biological pathways for repairing DNA damage
- Explore gene-based therapies or protective treatments for astronauts
- Apply findings to cancer treatment and radiation therapy back on Earth
This cross-disciplinary study blends genetics, biochemistry, and aerospace medicine, highlighting the power of model organisms in space health research.
Earth-Based Applications of Space Radiation Research
Although this research is being conducted in space, the implications are far-reaching. The tools and knowledge generated through Ax-4 can enhance health and safety on Earth, particularly in:
- Radiation oncology departments, where improved dosimetry can enhance patient care
- Industrial environments such as nuclear plants and aviation, where personal radiation monitoring is essential
- Remote or hazardous locations where ambient environmental monitoring is needed
Wearable devices like RANDAM could eventually serve as safety tools for high-risk workers, and the biological research from Ax-4 may one day support new treatment options for radiation-related illnesses.
How TrialX Supports Scalable Space Health Research
We are proud to support the evolving needs of space health research through our platform that enables secure and scalable remote health data collection.
This includes the EXPAND Database and Biorepository, a centralized research platform, developed in collaboration with the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), built to aggregate, curate, and analyze biomedical and clinical data from commercial spaceflights. It allows researchers to compare outcomes across missions and track longitudinal changes in astronaut health, including those related to radiation exposure.
In addition, we are supporting the development of HERMES, a platform funded by TRISH to enable autonomous health data collection in space. In 2023, TrialX was selected by TRISH to develop this system to improve healthcare delivery and data management for spaceflight participants and researchers.
As part of this initiative, we are building an AI-powered, offline-capable server that is currently in development and designed to operate in low-connectivity environments such as the International Space Station. This system will support the autonomous capture of wearable, sensor, and survey-based health data, making it ideal for remote health monitoring in space.
Together, these platforms ensure that space health researchers can:
- Deploy customized surveys linked to wearables and biometric sensors
- Collect high-quality data in real time or asynchronously when connectivity is limited
- Leverage AI and data analytics to understand long-term health impacts, including the effects of radiation
As part of space missions like Ax-4, TrialX is helping bridge the gap between data collection and scientific discovery, enabling personalized medicine even in the most extreme environments.
Protecting Astronauts, Advancing Science
Radiation remains one of the biggest challenges for long-duration spaceflight. The work being done on Ax-4 reflects the growing impact of space health research in developing solutions that can keep astronauts safe.
Axiom Mission 4 returned to Earth on July 15th, after 18 days of groundbreaking space health research and international collaboration aboard the International Space Station. This milestone marks the completion of the most research-intensive commercial spaceflight to date.
By combining advanced radiation detection systems like RadMon, wearable personal dosimeters like RANDAM, and remote digital health platforms such as the EXPAND Database and the offline-capable server we are developing, we are creating a future where radiation risks are not just monitored but actively managed.
Every data point gathered brings us one step closer to making long-term space missions safer and more sustainable. And in doing so, it also helps improve health systems, technologies, and outcomes right here on Earth.
Explore our Remote Data Collection Platform for space and decentralized health research.
