The recent news of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore’s prolonged stay on the International Space Station (ISS) has highlighted the health challenges faced by space travelers. The issue is critical, as India is set to have its own space station by 2035. To address these challenges, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have signed an agreement to integrate space science with biotechnology. The agreement will focus on research in muscle atrophy, cardiovascular health, radiation exposure, and the impact of altered microbiota on gut immunity. The deal also includes the development of technologies to mitigate the effects of space travel on human health.
The research will be conducted on uncrewed test missions planned for the Gaganyaan mission. Space biotechnology can also be used to understand the pathophysiology of disease states and develop therapeutics. Additionally, space technology can contribute to the development of commercially relevant products, such as protein crystal growth, biofabrication, and water purification systems. The collaboration between DBT and ISRO is an opportunity for India to harness the potential of biotechnology to improve its human space program and contribute to the development of a bioeconomy.