Deliverables for Exploration and Earth Applications

The Team's research is intended to accelerate progress on countermeasures that reduce the risk of human performance failure and maximize performance capabilities during space exploration.

Anticipated deliverables include:

• Specific recommendations for the wavelength and intensity of lighting in the crew habitat;
• Recommendations for light-dark schedules for crewmembers;
• Specified light transmission requirements for visors and windows;
• Recommended work-rest policies to facilitate alertness and performance during extended-duration missions;
• A mathematical-modeling tool for individualized evaluation of the impact of actual work-rest/sleep-wake and light-dark schedules on alertness and performance;
• A system for predicting and preventing the deposition of lunar and Mars dust in the lung;
• Essential amino acid supplementation to prevent muscle wasting; and
• A noninvasive technology to measure changes in gene expression profiles in colon cells to track response to diet and radiation over time.

Earth Applications
The Team's research is leading to applications for Earth in the following ways:

• Development of new methods for monitoring the status of sleep, sleep homeostatsis, circadian rhythmicity, light exposure and neurobehavioral performance;
• Testing of recovery sleep opportunities for improved alertness and well-being;
• Lighting recommendations to improve the safety and well-being of people on Earth working in jobs requiring international travel, shift work and extended schedules;
• Better models for assessing environmental exposure to particulate matter; and
• Improved ability to target drugs to specific areas of the lung, making it possible to achieve optimal results with small quantities of drugs and to minimize side effects.