Maintaining astronaut health while in space is complex and requires huge bandwidth for data transmission back to Earth.

In this latest iLAuNCH Trailblazer project, The Australian National University is partnering with Axiom Space and AI and ML solutions provider Aqacia to develop a wearable Space Health Device that will sense, transmit, and real-time assess health data in remote areas including sub-orbital flights.

The wearable device will enable real-time simulation, diagnosis, and prediction of astronaut physiology and fitness to function in microgravity. Data gained from crew under gravity and microgravity conditions in this project will also inform individualised prediction of fitness to fly.

“I’m delighted we are partnering with Axiom Space to fly two of our payloads to space. Our partnership will pave the way for a strategic relationship between our two programs, and hopefully Australia.” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett.

“Together with ANU and Aqacia, we will collect novel astronaut health markers and apply that to workers here on Earth who operate in remote and hostile environments.”

This collaboration is led by ANU who is developing medical digital twins, to rapidly simulate, diagnose and predict an astronaut or space passenger’s physiology in real-time and their fitness to fly and function in space, further developing a current iLAuNCH project with Aspen Medical, Liquid Instruments and Saber Astronautics.

“ANU will use in-flight data to mature our medical digital twins, utilising embedded machine learning algorithms and mathematical models of the human system,” said project lead ANU Professor Klaus-Martin Schulte, MD, FRCS, FRACS.

“These algorithms will enable real-time simulation, diagnosis, and prediction of astronaut physiology and fitness to function in microgravity. They will also provide effective feedback information for future intervention cycles.”

Phase 2 of the project will see in-space testing with Axiom Space, which will integrate the project for a future spaceflight.

“We’re delighted to partner with the iLAuNCH program as it addresses important issues for the future of spaceflight,” said Axiom Space’s Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist.

“The aim of the next phase on-orbit will enable real-time health monitoring and health status analyses of crew with reduced transmission bandwidth requirements, which moves toward Axiom Space’s goals of providing fast and appropriate clinical support for large populations of humans living and working in space.”

Canberra based start-up, Aqacia will apply world-class physics and ML expertise with powerful deep learning techniques.

“We are co-designing machine learning models and techniques to enhance the monitoring capability of the platform. By looking for new signals and features that are not traditionally used we hope to provide a unique capability.” said Aqacia CEO, Dr Aaron Tranter.

Current iLAuNCH partner Saber Astronautics will enable effective real-time communication of health data between space, satellite orbits and, any location on Earth connected to a communication satellite. This dimension of the project opens major on-Earth applications for humans living in remote locations, including Australia’s 7 million remote population, resource industries (mining) and off-shore activities (defence, commercial maritime services, stationary drilling and exploration sites). Upon training, the device has potential for incorporation into candidate evaluation and training for public, civil, and commercial spaceflight. The product has strong commercialisation potential as a space wearable but also for terrestrial applications.

About iLAuNCH

The Australian Government Trailblazer Universities Program provides dedicated investment to accelerate Australia’s innovation agenda at speed and at scale.

The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Trailblazer is a $180 million program building Australia’s enduring space capability through the commercialisation of projects, a fast-track accelerator, and skills development to build the workforce of the future.

About ANU

The Australian National University is dedicated to provide our nation with research capacity amongst the best in the world, and education in areas vital for our future. It is committed to address the most complex of tomorrow’s problems.

About Axiom Space

Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. For more information about Axiom Space, visit www.axiomspace.com.

About Aqacia

Aqacia is a machine learning startup that spun out of the quantum memory program of CQC2T Memory Technologies Work Package at the Australian National University. Aqacia specialises in building machine learning tools for quantum and complex systems by applying physical insights and small data techniques. Aqacia has provided next generation control technology based on deep learning to multiple quantum labs around the world and is currently working to build a cloud integrated solution which can service a wider variety of complex tasks.

Image from left to right: Tim Searle (Stategic Advisor – AXIOM), Darin Lovett (Executive Director – iLAuNCH), Dr. Koichi Wakata (Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer – AXIOM), Dr. Joni Sytsma (Chief Technology Officer – iLAuNCH), Dr. Kate Ferguson (Associate Director of Strategic Projects – The Australian National University), Dr. Rosalind Dubs (Chair of iLAuNCH Advisory Board).