How Can We Survive on Mars? 20 Mice Go to Space So We Can Solve It! Rationalist.org — Evolution Tree content 2019
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Friday morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, headed for the International Space Station (ISS). Although unmanned, the rocket is carrying some important passengers: 20 laboratory mice. These mice are part of a study by the Northwestern University Center for Sleep and Daily Biology (CSCB). Ten mice are scheduled to orbit for a record 90 days, with the remaining ten returning to Earth after 30 days. Researchers will observe how the mice's circadian rhythms (biological processes occurring in 24-hour cycles), microbiomes (bacteria and other microorganisms living in and around the body), and other physiological processes are affected. This new study builds upon NASA's Gemini Study, which CSCB researchers are also working on. For this project, astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year on the ISS while his twin brother, Mark, also an astronaut, remained on Earth to perform a control mission. Earlier this year, NASA published preliminary findings from the study, noting that Scott's time in space affected 7 percent of his genes. The 20 mice that went to the ISS also have identical siblings who will remain on Earth at a NASA research facility. There, they will experience the same conditions as their high-flying siblings – the same lighting, temperatures, and work – with only a three-day difference. While mice and humans are biologically different, the hope is that this near-identical repetition of conditions will yield better results than the Twins Study in understanding the effects of space on the body. After all, while Scott was on the ISS, his brother was living on Earth, and it's possible he did things that could affect the study's outcome. We already know that prolonged time in space can lead to numerous health problems, such as vision loss, cancer, and psychological disorders. However, we don't know exactly how a human body will be affected by prolonged time in space. Given that this journey to Mars will take several years, we need to understand this before sending someone to our neighboring planet. While 90 days may not sound like a long time, it's equivalent to nine years in our lifetime. Therefore, these tiny astronaut mice could hold the key to understanding what happens when we spend a significant portion of our lives beyond Earth's atmosphere. Translation: Ayşe Ege Palaz
References: Futurism, “The Digest: 20 Mice Are Going to Space To Help Us Figure out How to Survive on Mars” < https://futurism.com/astronaut-mice-iss-mars/ > Northwestern University, “Gutsy Mice Launched into Space with Northwestern-LED Space Project” < https://research.northwestern.edu/news/gutsy-mice-blast-northwestern-led-space-project >
Originally published on Medium on April 24, 2023. English translation of “Hem Fareler, Hem de İnsanlar İçin Büyük Bir Adım!”.