Team Name
- Space Medicine and Biomedical Technology Research Team (ANDROMEDA)
ANDROMEDA Leader
- Gülseren Sakarya (Ankara, T.C.Ministry of Health / General Directorate of Health Services, Bahçeşehir University, Ph.D)
- Merve Azra Merdin (Deputy Leader. Dokuz Eylül University, Medicine)
About ANDROMEDA
ANDROMEDA consists of two interdisciplinary teams within MoEP contributing to space research. The GENESIS team, focused on space medicine and biomedical research, works on space health challenges, while the Next-gen Operational Vitality for Astronauts (NOVA) team develops Next-gen Operational Vitality for Astronauts for manned space missions and habitats on other planets.
Made up of doctors, engineers, and undergraduate students, these teams conduct critical research on humanity’s future in space through both real space missions and the Analog Mars Station.
ANDROMEDA Mission
ANDROMEDA is a research structure focused on two key areas of manned space exploration—space medicine and Next-gen Operational Vitality for Astronauts—carrying out critical missions. The GENESIS and LSS teams aim to provide solutions through their work, centering on human health and the sustainability of life, both in analog environments and future space missions.
GENESIS Team Mission
GENESIS works to research the effects of the space environment on human health and develop necessary medical and biotechnological solutions to sustain life in space. In this regard, the team:
- Investigates the effects of space environments on human physiology,
- Works on solutions for medical issues encountered during space missions,
- Focuses on new technologies in space medicine,
- Investigates the health effects of long-duration space missions through analog astronaut studies,
- Provides software support for monitoring physiological parameters (heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, circadian rhythm, and sleep tracking) of crew members in the Analog Mars Station,
- Offers practical solutions in areas like space hygiene, contamination risks, and space food production,
- Develops emergency medical interventions and health safety procedures for crew members,
- Establishes a comprehensive medical support infrastructure for space missions to protect human health.
NOVA Team Mission
The NOVA (Next-gen Operational Vitality for Astronauts) team is focused on developing life support systems essential for sustaining human life in space and on other planets. To achieve this goal, the team:
- Designs innovative and efficient systems for essential life support functions such as oxygen production, water recycling, waste management, and atmospheric control,
- Tests the developed systems in laboratory environments and analog stations to optimize reliability and performance,
- Will evaluate life support technologies under Mars-like conditions at the MoEP Analog Mars Research Station, contributing to the technological infrastructure for future manned missions.
ANDROMEDA Research Areas
The GENESIS and NOVA teams work on human health, safety, and life sustainability in both analog missions and real space applications.
Space Medicine and Biomedical Research (GENESIS) Research Areas
The GENESIS team works to understand the effects of the space environment on human health and to develop preventive solutions for these effects. The team conducts research on the following topics, ranging from analog astronaut missions to real mission simulations:
- Space Physiology and Radiation: Investigating the effects of space radiation on human health and exploring protective measures; studying the impact of microgravity on the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.
- Space Health and Disease Management: Developing methods to combat the risks of infectious disease spread in space; conducting emergency medical intervention drills for crew members in analog stations.
- Biometric Monitoring Systems: Designing and testing wearable biometric sensors to monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, sleep cycles, and circadian rhythms.
- Telemedicine and Robotic Systems: Developing telemedical solutions for remote health monitoring and robotic-assisted healthcare systems.
- Space Psychology and Behavior: Studying psychological factors affecting crew members' mental health and performance; researching behavioral adaptations under long-term isolation and stress conditions.
- Space Food and Nutrition: Designing safe, hygienic, and sustainable nutrition systems for space missions; conducting food safety and nutritional content studies for crew members in analog stations.
- Hygiene and Contamination Prevention: Developing protocols for space hygiene, surface contamination, and microbial control in analog stations; creating health and safety guidelines.
Next-gen Operational Vitality for Astronauts (NOVA) Research Areas
The NOVA team focuses on designing, testing, and developing systems that make human life possible in space and on other planets. These systems aim to ensure astronaut safety, health, and the sustainability of their living conditions. Research areas include:
- Atmospheric Control Systems: Ensuring the precise control of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen levels in space habitats to maintain breathable environments.
- Oxygen Production and Distribution: Developing sustainable oxygen production systems using electrolysis, chemical reactions, and other technologies.
- Water Recycling and Circulation Systems: Designing closed-loop water systems to purify and recycle wastewater for reuse.
- Waste Management: Developing systems for the safe separation, processing, and recycling of solid and liquid human waste.
- Pressure and Thermal Control: Designing thermal control systems to maintain stable internal pressure and temperature in living spaces.
- Carbon Dioxide Management: Using molecular sieves, renewable chemical filters, and metal oxide systems to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Radiation Protection: Testing protective materials and habitat designs to shield astronauts from space radiation.
- Food Production Systems: Researching plant-based production systems and closed agriculture technologies to meet the food needs of astronauts on long-duration missions.
The Importance of ANDROMEDA
The GENESIS and NOVA teams work both independently and collaboratively, making invaluable scientific and technological contributions to the success of future space missions.
The GENESIS team conducts comprehensive research on the effects of the space environment on human health, offering solutions to medical challenges encountered in space and developing advanced technologies to support life in space.
These efforts not only make space travel safer and more sustainable but also contribute to medical research on Earth.
GENESIS is making groundbreaking advances in space medicine, taking important scientific steps toward understanding the limits of human physiology and protecting the health of future space travelers.
The NOVA team takes on the critical task of designing and developing life support systems essential for sustaining human life in space missions. From atmospheric control to water recycling, oxygen production to waste management, the team lays the foundation for technologies that make human life possible in extraterrestrial environments.
These systems are essential not only for space missions but also for long-term colonization goals, including missions to Mars and beyond.
If you are passionate about space technologies, human infrastructure for manned missions, and life support systems, and you have expertise in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, or related fields, the NOVA team invites you to contribute to groundbreaking research.