Preparing for the new space age: Sleep, circadian rhythms, and health while living and working in space
Interest in private space travel and tourism is expanding alongside new advances in long-duration space missions, development of lunar habitats and planned journeys to Mars, even as the physiological and psychological challenges of living in low-gravity, non-24-hour light-dark environments and confined, isolated settings remain insufficiently understood.
With the backdrop of Surrey’s 45-year legacy in space technology research leadership, this workshop will develop a roadmap for creating and validating new technologies and countermeasures to evaluate and treat sleep and circadian disruption in space. The workshop will also address the opportunities offered by the new age of space tourism as well as identify the tools and training required to manage its physiological and psychological challenges.
One of the major challenges of living and working in space is disruption to sleep and circadian rhythms. Space travel is associated with unusual light-dark cycles to which the 24-hour circadian system cannot synchronise, and this circadian misalignment increases the risk of sleep loss and performance impairment, and therefore crew safety, as well as misalignment of body systems including metabolism, immune function, and reproductive health. Sleep is also a major challenge in space due to microgravity, noise, temperature, CO2, and confined quarters, further contributing to sleep-related safety and health risks. The psychological challenge of living isolated in confined spaces and small groups is also a major concern. Exposure to these risks will become more prevalent as the possibility to live and work in space expands with the growth in private space companies and as the new opportunities in space tourism emerge.
The goal of this workshop is to identify and address some of the challenges associated with this new era in human space travel and exploration.
