Astronauts on the upcoming SpaceX Crew-13 mission will conduct biomedical research, including studies on blood flow and manual piloting skills in microgravity.

NASA’s upcoming SpaceX Crew-13 mission will feature a series of biomedical and human performance investigations aboard the International Space Station. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, and CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk, will participate in research designed to inform future spaceflight safety and hardware design.

Researching Blood Flow and Clotting

A primary focus of the mission is the 'Venous Haemostasis' study, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency. This research aims to understand how microgravity affects circulation and blood clotting by analyzing physiological data and blood samples collected before, during, and after flight. Researchers will utilize MRI scans, jugular vein ultrasounds, and blood pressure checks to track changes in blood composition. Jason Lytle, a cardiovascular researcher at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, noted that weightlessness can disrupt normal blood flow, potentially increasing the risk of blood clot formation. The study seeks to identify why some astronauts experience these changes while others do not, with the goal of developing better preventative measures for both space and Earth-based health applications.

Testing Manual Piloting and Re-entry

In addition to physiological studies, the mission includes a performance investigation titled 'Manual Piloting.' This study uses lunar-landing simulations to evaluate how well astronauts can perform complex landing maneuvers after spending extended periods in microgravity. Furthermore, the crew will measure the physical forces experienced during their return to Earth to help refine future re-entry procedures and hardware.