Why SpaceX delivered living bits of human organs to the ISS for NASA

While in orbit on the International Space Station (ISS), microgravity rapidly changes astronauts' bodies, suppressing their immune systems and even causing their muscles and bones to atrophy.

To find out more, NASA contracted SpaceX to send “tissue chips” containing cells from human organs to the ISS.

Investigating these chips, which simulate how normal cells behave, will enable scientists to learn more about how to keep astronauts healthy during long-term space travel.

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Though experiments on how living in space affects the human body certainly aren't new, there's still a great deal we don't really understand about the effects of living in space for extended periods of time.

To find out more, scientists have sent new technology called tissue chips, which contain cells from human organs, to the International Space Station (ISS). These chips could help predict how effective certain potential medicines might be in humans.

According to a NASA press release, microgravity can cause changes in human cells that look similar to accelerated aging and disease processes.

While in orbit on the ISS, microgravity rapidly changes astronauts' bodies. Itt suppresses their immune systems, and their muscles and bones atrophy.

Each of the chips that have been transported is designed to mimic a different part of the human body. A whole host of cells have been sent to the ISS, from the kidneys and lungs to our bones and the blood-brain barrier.

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As part of the investigation, a fluid that mimics blood, and can contain drugs or toxins, will pass through the chips.

This means scientists will be able to look at how a few weeks in microgravity would affect cells, rather than having to spend months on a similar experiment on Earth.

Ultimately, this will enable the researchers to learn more about how to keep astronauts healthy during long-term space travel.

They also believe the research will be critical to developing new medical treatments back on Earth.

Under the effects of microgravity, human cells age rapidly

Changes that would normally take place over a few months on Earth take mere weeks in space. This is thought to be related to caps at the end of chromosomes in our cells called telomeres, which help protect our DNA from damage.

As we age or experience stress, these caps shrink. Scientists think telomeres should change in length while you're in space — not just from aging and natural causes but from other stressors, including cosmic radiation and zero gravity.

Through sending these cells out to the ISS, scientists will also be able to explore the effects of new drugs on diseases at a faster rate.

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