La Trobe University researchers have embarked on a groundbreaking mission to explore the effects of microgravity on the human gut by sending two 10-centimetre-high “cell hotels” into space. These innovative miniature laboratories were launched on November 12 from Sweden as part of a sounding rocket mission organized by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
The “cell hotels,” designed in collaboration with Melbourne engineering firm Enable Aerospace, were among 21 international experiments aboard the MAPHEUS-16 mission. The project aims to provide insights into how gut cells adapt to space conditions, potentially paving the way for significant medical advancements.
Understanding the Impact of Microgravity
Professor Patrick Humbert, Director of the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS) and the primary investigator of the Gastronauts project, explained that the mission’s goal is to compare gut cells before, during, and after the space journey. This research could illuminate how cells communicate and regenerate in the absence of gravity, offering clues to broader health implications, including cancer.
“If we remove gravity, we can discover why and how gravity is important for health,” Professor Humbert stated.
La Trobe Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Professor Chris Pakes, emphasized the transformative potential of these experiments for both space and terrestrial health. “These experiments could have far-reaching consequences,” he noted.
The Journey of the ‘Gastronauts’
The MAPHEUS-16 mission marks the third collaboration between La Trobe and the DLR. The small modules, which took a year to design and test, were the result of a collaborative effort involving La Trobe University’s PhD researcher Samantha Melrose, Dr. Amir Nasiri Kenari from the University of Tokyo, and Enable Aerospace engineer Geoffrey Cooper.
Each module contained a “cell hotel” and a “microgravity microscope.” The cell hotel housed slides with living gut cells, capturing samples at various flight stages for biochemical analysis. Meanwhile, the microgravity microscope, featuring smart slides developed by La Trobe’s Abbey Laboratory, recorded cellular changes that traditional glass slides might miss.
During the mission, the cells experienced zero gravity for over six minutes, providing invaluable data on human gut biology in space. The experiments were meticulously compared to identical tests conducted on Earth.
International Collaboration and Future Implications
The MAPHEUS-16 mission, launched from Esrange, a facility operated by the Swedish Space Corporation, reached an altitude of nearly 270 kilometers. Don Love, Director of Enable Aerospace, highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration with La Trobe University and DLR, stating, “Every time we fly, we improve the science and the working relationships required to meet such complex challenges.”
Dr. Jens Hauslage, lead of the Aeromedical FabLab at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine and Associate Professor at La Trobe University, expressed his satisfaction with the continued partnership. “The MAPHEUS 16 campaign is an excellent example of our long-standing international research cooperation in the field of life sciences in space,” he said.
MAPHEUS stands for ‘Material Physics Experiments under Microgravity,’ and has been conducting regular high-altitude research flights since 2009.
The implications of this research extend beyond the confines of space exploration. By understanding how gravity influences cellular processes, scientists hope to unlock new treatments and preventative measures for health issues on Earth. As the world continues to push the boundaries of space travel, studies like these are crucial in ensuring the well-being of astronauts and, by extension, all of humanity.
The successful deployment of the “cell hotels” marks a significant milestone in space research, promising to yield insights that could revolutionize our understanding of biology in microgravity and inform future missions.
