Zero-gravity Environment Research Articles

High speed vibration compensation using magnetic fiducials via NIMBLE

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology, specifically 3D printing, holds great promise for in-orbit manufacturing. In-space printing can significantly reduce the mass, cost, and risk of long-term space exploration by enabling replacement parts to be made as needed and reducing dependence on Earth. However, printing in a zero-gravity environment poses challenges due to the absence of a rigid ground for the print platform, which can result in vibrational and rotational forces that may impact printing integrity. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel linear magnetic position tracking algorithm, named Navigation Integrating Magnets By Linear Estimation (NIMBLE), for dynamic vibration compensation during 3D printing of truss structures in space. Compared to the most commonly used nonlinear optimization method, the NIMBLE algorithm is more than two orders of magnitude faster. With only a single 3-axis magnet sensor and a small NdFeB magnet, the NIMBLE algorithm provides a simple and easily implemented tracking solution for in-orbit 3D printing.

Heterogeneous Transfer Learning of Electrohydrodynamic Printing Under Zero-Gravity Toward In-Space Manufacturing

Abstract As we continue to commercialize space and mature in-space manufacturing (ISM) processes, there is a strong need to transfer the knowledge we learn from experiments on the ground to zero-gravity environments. Physics-motivated manufacturing processes, like additive manufacturing, experience a shift in fabrication parameters due to the absence of gravity and the change of environments. Thus, we found traditional machine learning methods are not capable of addressing this domain shift and present a transfer learning scheme as a solution in this paper. We tested a kernel ridge regression model built for heterogeneous transfer learning (KRR-HeITL) on data from the electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing (EHD printing) process. EHD printing is a process that uses electrical force to control material flows, thus achieving the fabrication of electronics without requiring gravity. Our team has successfully conducted three rounds of parabolic flights to validate this technology for ISM. We trained on multiple datasets built from on-ground experiments and tested using zero-gravity printing data obtained from parabolic flight tests. Measurements of the Taylor cone both on-ground and in zero-gravity were taken and exploited as a part of the training data. We found that our method obtains good interpolation accuracy (MAPE 3.85%) compared to traditional machine learning methods (MAPE 16.84%) for predicting the printed line width. We concluded that the KRR-HeITL method is well suited for zero-gravity domain shifts of EHD printing parameters. This study paves the way for future predictions of ISM parameters when there are only on-ground experiments or very limited zero-gravity datasets for a given process.

Smile Beyond the Stars: A Narrative Review Exploring the Challenges for Dentistry in Space.

Space dentistry addresses the unique challenges of providing dental care in space, where zero gravity, limited resources, and the vast distance from Earth complicate the maintenance of oral health. Ensuring astronauts' dental health is crucial, as dental issues can adversely affect their overall health and mission performance. Microgravity exacerbates risks for dental problems such as periodontitis, dental caries, bone loss, and potentially, neoplasms. Traditional dental care methods become less effective in microgravity, leading to increased plaque accumulation and worsening of dental diseases. As space missions venture further and last longer, maintaining oral hygiene presents unique challenges that necessitate innovative solutions. These include specialized tools like ergonomic toothbrushes and 3D-printed dental prostheses designed to function effectively in a zero-gravity environment. Preventive measures, such as comprehensive astronaut training programs focusing on oral health, are vital. These programs educate astronauts on maintaining oral hygiene and managing potential dental issues using available resources. Collaborative efforts among dental professionals, engineers, and space agencies are essential to developing comprehensive strategies for space dentistry. Such interdisciplinary collaboration leads to the advancement of dental care technologies and methodologies that can address the unique needs of astronauts. Despite the formidable challenges, these innovative solutions and collaborative efforts offer promising avenues for ensuring the dental health of astronauts during long-duration missions. This review aims to examine the detrimental effects of microgravity on the oral cavity and explore potential solutions to these issues, ensuring that humanity can continue to push the boundaries of space exploration while safeguarding the well-being of those who venture into the cosmos.

Direct measurement for hand-transmitted vibration of human fingers-hand-arm system in the zero-gravity environment

This paper proposes a direct measurement method to obtain the mechanical impedance and vibration transmissibility of the fingers-hand-arm system when operating power tools based on zero-gravity environment simulations. A hand-transmitted vibration measurement system with a suspension device for zero-gravity simulation is first built. The two-step dynamic measurement method is used to measure the dynamic force and acceleration of fingers and palm directly. The forearm and upper arm’s acceleration is also measured using the two-step dynamic measurement method. Based on eliminating the effect of the handle’s effective mass on the mechanical impedance, the mechanical impedance and vibration transmissibility of the human fingers-hand-arm system during the actual operation of the power tool are calculated by using the measured data, and the biodynamic response characteristics of the fingers-hand-arm system at different frequencies are analyzed. The results show that, under the condition of the ISO standardized operating posture (ISO 10819, 2013), the mechanical impedance and vibration transmissibility curves obtained by direct measurement of 21 subjects have remarkable consistency respectively. Compared with the experimental data in the gravity environment, the mechanical impedance and the vibration transmissibility obtained based on the zero-gravity simulation are more consistent with the working conditions of the on-orbit maintenance power tools.

Autonomous Droid for Terrestrial Research and Intelligence (ATRi)

ATRi (Autonomous droid for Terrestrial Research and Intelligence) is an autonomous and sentient droid designed to assist space crews with various activities and experiments. The artificially intelligent droid autonomously navigates inside crewed space capsules and utilizes voice and visual recognition algorithms to receive commands, record basic readings, and assist the crew in performing various experiments. ATRi's machine learning algorithms can be tailored to the specific astronaut(s) it will accompany in the space capsule. This personalized approach not only assists astronauts but also fosters a sense of companionship. This paper provides details about the physical and algorithmic characteristics of the droid and outlines how it can be trained and deployed in any crewed space capsule. The droid will be powered by a sentient program that incorporates visual recognition (including facial recognition and video recording capabilities), natural language processing, voice recognition, and speech synthesis. Six microphones and two cameras are embedded to capture audio/voice commands and visuals. While the current version of the droid is fixed to the space capsule, future iterations are envisioned to be highly mobile in zero-gravity environments within any crewed space capsule. This mobility is facilitated by a sophisticated motion control system that enables the droid to align in any direction, rotate, and navigate inside the crewed space module. In addition to assisting the crew, ATRi will document all activities inside the capsule through photos and videos. It can process images and videos, automatically categorize them, and periodically communicate the information to ground control.

Blood samples from the MESSAGE experiment have been delivered!

The blood samples taken by Türkiye's first astronaut Alper Gezeroci in space in a zero-gravity environment reached the TRGENMER laboratory of Üsküdar University.

Training and Education Requirements for Pharmacists in Zero Gravity Environments.

Training and Education Requirements for Pharmacists in Zero Gravity Environments.

Thermocapillary Bubble Oscillations and Migration in a Vibrating Cylinder in a Zero-Gravity Environment

Thermocapillary Bubble Oscillations and Migration in a Vibrating Cylinder in a Zero-Gravity Environment

PD31-10 PRODUCTION OF VASCULARIZED FUNCTIONAL ORGAN CONSTRUCTS WITH LONG-TERM SURVIVAL

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD31-10 PRODUCTION OF VASCULARIZED FUNCTIONAL ORGAN CONSTRUCTS WITH LONG-TERM SURVIVAL Kelsey Willson, Sang Jin Lee, Young-Wook Moon, John Jackson, Colin Bishop, James Yoo, and Anthony Atala Kelsey WillsonKelsey Willson More articles by this author , Sang Jin LeeSang Jin Lee More articles by this author , Young-Wook MoonYoung-Wook Moon More articles by this author , John JacksonJohn Jackson More articles by this author , Colin BishopColin Bishop More articles by this author , James YooJames Yoo More articles by this author , and Anthony AtalaAnthony Atala More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003324.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Developing large vascularized tissue constructs that can maintain long-term is an ongoing challenge. A strategy that has been gaining much attention is to bioengineer prevascularize tissue constructs that allow for immediate perfusion. We present the development of a large vascularized functional human liver construct that can be maintained for 30 days with high viability METHODS: Vascularized human liver tissue constructs of 1.5 cm in diameter and 6 cm in length were fabricated using an extrusion-based 3D printing system, seeded with hepatocytes (HepG2) in bulk hydrogel (alginate) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) within the vascular channels. The alginate/HepG2 mixture was placed into a mold. A sacrificial gel (calcium chloride/HUVECs) was used to create vessels. Post printing, the samples were cured using calcium chloride and incubated at 37°C to liquefy the sacrificial gel. The liver tissue constructs were maintained in a media bath for 4 days, followed by media perfusion for 30 days using a peristaltic pump. The tissue samples were removed every 10 days and analyzed for cellular viability and biochemical functionality (albumin/bilirubin production). Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the location of hepatocytes and endothelial cells. RESULTS: Alginate and calcium chloride was successfully used to fabricate constructs patterned with internal vascular channels running the entire length of the construct. The final constructs were cylindrical and maintained their structural integrity. The liver tissue samples showed high viability following fabrication and maintained a greater than 94 percent viability throughout the 30-day time point. The liver tissue constructs produced albumin and bilirubin at levels comparable to human liver tissue (assayed at 10, 20, and 30 days). In the retrieved constructs endothelial cells were identified on the vascular channel walls surrounded by hepatocytes in the hydrogel. CONCLUSIONS: We have successfully created large vascularized liver tissue constructs patterned with hollow channels using 3D bioprinting. The combination of perfusion and internal channels maintained high viability for 30 days. The liver tissue constructs produced albumin and bilirubin levels comparable to human liver tissue. This is a major step towards creating large vascularized functional liver tissue constructs that could be used for translational applications. Source of Funding: This work is a winner of NASA’s Vascular Tissue Challenge contest. The authors thank NASA for supporting this work in a zero-gravity environment on the International Space Station © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e904 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Kelsey Willson More articles by this author Sang Jin Lee More articles by this author Young-Wook Moon More articles by this author John Jackson More articles by this author Colin Bishop More articles by this author James Yoo More articles by this author Anthony Atala More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

A computational fluid dynamics analysis on Fe3O4–H2O based nanofluid axisymmetric flow over a rotating disk with heat transfer enhancement

In present times modern electronic devices often come across thermal difficulties as an outcome of excessive heat production or reduction in surface area for heat exclusion. The current study is aimed to inspect the role of iron (III) oxide in heat transfer enhancement over the rotating disk in an axisymmetric flow. Water is utilized as base fluid conveying nano-particle over the revolving axisymmetric flow mechanism. Additionally, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach is taken into consideration to design and compute the present problem. For our convenience, two-dimensional axisymmetric flow configurations are considered to illustrate the different flow profiles. For radial, axial, and tangential velocity profiles, the magnitude of the velocity, streamlines, and surface graphs are evaluated with the similarity solution in the computational fluid dynamics module. The solution of dimensionless equations and the outcomes of direct simulations in the CFD module show a comparable solution of the velocity profile. It is observed that with an increment in nanoparticle volumetric concentration the radial velocity decline where a tangential motion of flow enhances. Streamlines stretch around the circular surface with the passage of time. The high magnetization force 0 le {{mathrm{m}}_{1}}le 6 resist the free motion of the nanofluid around the rotating disk. Such research has never been done, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge. The outcomes of this numerical analysis could be used for the design, control, and optimization of numerous thermal engineering systems, as described above, due to the intricate physics of nanofluid under the influences of magnetic field and the inclusion of complex geometry. Ferrofluids are metallic nanoparticle colloidal solutions. These kinds of fluids do not exist in nature. Depending on their purpose, ferrofluids are produced using a variety of processes. One of the most essential characteristics of ferrofluids is that they operate in a zero-gravity environment. Ferrofluids have a wide range of uses in engineering and medicine. Ferrofluids have several uses, including heat control loudspeakers and frictionless sealing. In the sphere of medicine, however, ferrofluid is employed in the treatment of cancer via magneto hyperthermia.

Material Extrusion of Helical Shape Memory Polymer Artificial Muscles for Human Space Exploration Apparatus.

Astronauts suffer skeletal muscle atrophy in microgravity and/or zero-gravity environments. Artificial muscle-actuated exoskeletons can aid astronauts in physically strenuous situations to mitigate risk during spaceflight missions. Current artificial muscle fabrication methods are technically challenging to be performed during spaceflight. The objective of this research is to unveil the effects of critical operating conditions on artificial muscle formation and geometry in a newly developed helical fiber extrusion method. It is found that the fiber outer diameter decreases and pitch increases when the printhead temperature increases, inlet pressure increases, or cooling fan speed decreases. Similarly, fiber thickness increases when the cooling fan speed decreases or printhead temperature increases. Extrusion conditions also affect surface morphology and mechanical properties. Particularly, extrusion conditions leading to an increased polymer temperature during extrusion can result in lower surface roughness and increased tensile strength and elastic modulus. The shape memory properties of an extruded fiber are demonstrated in this study to validate the ability of the fiber from shape memory polymer to act as an artificial muscle. The effects of the operating conditions are summarized into a phase diagram for selecting suitable parameters for fabricating helical artificial muscles with controllable geometries and excellent performance in the future.

Active Compliance Control of a Position-Controlled Industrial Robot for Simulating Space Operations

An industrial robot with a six-axis force/torque sensor is usually used to produce a zero-gravity environment for testing space robotic operations. However, using traditional force control methods, such as admittance control, causes position-controlled industrial robots to undergo from force divergence owing to intrinsic time delay. In this paper, a new force control method is proposed to eliminate the force divergence. A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulator with an industrial robot is first presented. The free-floating satellite dynamics and the motion mapping from the satellites to simulator are both established. Thus, the effects of measurement delay and dynamic response delay on contact velocity and force are investigated. After that, a real-time estimation method for contact stiffness and damping is proposed based on the adaptive Kalman filter. The measurement delay is compensated by a phase lead model. Moreover, the identified contact parameters are adopted to modify contact forces, and thus the dynamics response delay can be compensated for. Finally, a co-simulation and experiments were conducted to verify the force control method. The results show that contact stiffness and damping could be identified exactly and that the simulation divergence could be prevented. This paper proposes an active compliance control method that can deal with force constrained tasks of a position-controlled robot in unknown environments.

OMM in Space: Considerations for osteopathic manipulative medicine in space applications

Abstract Introduction: Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is the therapeutic approach to medicine involving hands-on treatment to alleviate the structural or functional dysfunctions which may be present in the human body at any given time, especially after physically taxing activities. OMM has proven successful in the treatment of these dysfunctions on patients for over a century on earth. Little is known about how OMM could be applied in a zero-gravity environment such as space. This paper will explore how OMM may be implemented into the care of astronauts both on the ground and during long duration spaceflight. Methods and Results: A PubMed search for “Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine” and “Space Flight” yielded zero results. Conclusion: Somatic dysfunctions from microgravity environments are known to occur. We postulate that there are special treatment considerations for addressing somatic dysfunctions developed in microgravity environments that are different from those developed on earth. More research is needed to determine which techniques are the most effective and safest for space travel. The research will need to also determine any changes in techniques along with the timing of them, to make them most suitable for use in space medicine.

Molecular Dynamics Study of Melting Behavior of Planar Stacked Ti–Al Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is one of the most commonly used methods in additive manufacturing, due to its high prototyping speed and applicability to various materials. In the present work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to study the thermodynamic behaviors of the planar stacked nanoparticles (NPs) model and explore the potential capability of the SLS process with nano-sized metal powders in the zero-gravity space environment. A multi-particle model of titanium–aluminum (Ti–Al) core–shell NP with a particle radius of 50 Å was constructed to investigate the characteristics of the melted pattern during sintering. Two patterns with different spatial densities were considered to study the influence of particle stacking on the melting process. Various core volume fractions and heating rates were examined to investigate their effects on the quality of the final sintered product. The stacked-NPs models with core volume fractions (CVFs) of 3%, 12%, and 30% were linearly heated up to 1100 K from room temperature (298 K) with heating rates of 0.04, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 K ps−1. The initial fusion temperature and final sintering temperature for each stacking pattern were obtained via the validation from the radial distribution function, mean squared displacement, and the radius of the gyration analysis. The 30% CVF yields the largest neck size before the melting point, while beyond the melting point, a larger core helps delay the formation of the fully-melted products. It is observed that using the close-packed stacked-NPs model under a slow heating rate (long melting duration) would help form a stable, completely sintered product with a relatively low final sintering temperature.

Extending Einstein’s elevator thought experiment to multiple spatial dimensions at the Luxor Hotel & Casino

In 1907, Albert Einstein wrote one of his most important works, involving a comparison of the physical phenomenon that would be observed in an imaginary elevator in a gravitational field and an imaginary elevator that is accelerating in a zero-gravity environment. This thought experiment had far-reaching implications regarding gravitational and inertial mass, the bending of spacetime, and the curving of light by gravity. Now, a century later, we expand on Einstein’s principles and conduct the experiment in an actual elevator traveling at an angle in the pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This raises the research question, “Can the angle of the accelerating inclined elevator be measured from inside the elevator with no view of the outside world?” To answer this question, we designed a series of experiments based on the decomposition of motion vectors and Einstein’s Equivalency Principle. The experiment yielded data that accurately measured the angle of inclination and reasonable conclusions were drawn that the angle of inclination could in fact be measured with no view of the outside world.

Liquid walls and interfaces in arbitrary directions stabilized by vibrations

Gravity shapes liquids and plays a crucial role in their internal balance. Creating new equilibrium configurations irrespective of the presence of a gravitational field is challenging with applications on Earth as well as in zero-gravity environments. Vibrations are known to alter the shape of liquid interfaces and also to change internal dynamics and stability in depth. Here, we show that vibrations can also create an "artificial gravity" in any direction. We demonstrate that a liquid can maintain an inclined interface when shaken in an arbitrary direction. A necessary condition for the equilibrium to occur is the existence of a velocity gradient determined by dynamical boundary conditions. However, the no-slip boundary condition and incompressibility can perturb the required velocity profile, leading to a destabilization of the equilibrium. We show that liquid layers provide a solution, and liquid walls of several centimeters in height can thus be stabilized. We show that the buoyancy equilibrium is not affected by the forcing.

Next Generation Water Recovery for a Sustainable Closed Loop Living

In order to facilitate extended human space travel, solutions and innovations are required to enable habitation in microgravity spacecraft habitats such as International space station (ISS), with limited supply availability. At present, the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) within the ISS recovers and recycles 90% of the water from human waste. However, their efficiency decreases during their lifetime owing to unmanageable process contaminants, requiring ground support to supply complex hazardous chemicals to treat these system components such that they maintain their targeted performance[i] ,[ii],[iii]. As human missions travel further into the solar system, the availability of ground support will be diminished. Therefore, next-generation systems to recycle water are required to reduce waste and improve system efficiency. Within this context, Faraday Technology Inc. and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) are developing a bio-electrochemical waste water treatment system. Within this system, a bioreactor will convert urea from the waste water to ammonia by hydrolysis:NH2(CO)NH2 + H2O → 2NH3 + CO2 (1)Next the effluent of the bioreactor will flow through the ammonia oxidation reactor:2NH3 → N2 + 3H2 (2)Thus, generating urea free waste water effluent for further filtration and enhancement. The developed technology has the potential to be compatible with existing ECLSS systems and be an integral part of the closed loop living systems required for long term life support on NASA’s manned space missions.Ongoing activity between Faraday Technology and UPR has demonstrated an 85% conversion of urea to ammonia in a bioreactor and a near complete conversion of ammonia in an electrochemical reactor in a laboratory set-up utilizing a synthetic urine electrolyte[iv] ,[v]. Based on the studies, Faraday has designed and built an alpha scale reactor to process 6 L volume of urine per day as per NASA specifications. The next step in reactor demonstration activities is to understand the effects of zero-gravity on the ammonia reactor. The electrochemical reactor and components are assembled in an electrochemical microgravity laboratory setup (Figure 1). Optimized conditions from ground-based performance data will be implemented during the zero-gravity flight test to evaluate the feasibility of ammonia oxidation in zero-gravity environment. The flight test is scheduled for May 2021.In this talk we will be discussing the ongoing developments at Faraday, where we have (1) leveraged existing knowledge to design and test the bio-electrochemical reactor under zero gravity conditions; (2) evaluated electrocatalyst for ammonia oxidation reactor; (3) optimized the electrocatalytic efficiency and waste water treatment rate with urine simulants; (4) designed and built a demonstration-scale bio-electrochemical reactor unit capable of meeting NASA required specifications; and (5) will be validating operation under zero gravity conditions during the May 2021 zero gravity test flight. Acknowledgements: The financial support of NASA Contract No. NNX17CA30P and 80NSSC18C0222 is acknowledged.

On the feasibility of developing a single- stage acceleration/deceleration unit based on the oxygen-hydrocarbon engine 11D58M for a super-heavy launch vehicle

The paper presents results of unsolicited exploratory design studies done by the authors into the feasibility of developing for a super-heavy launch vehicle a single-stage oxygen-hydrocarbon acceleration/deceleration unit (ADU) with two liquid-propellant rocket engines 11D58M developed by RSC Energia, intended for insertion of manned spacecraft into lunar orbit, as well as for insertion of super-heavy spacecraft into geostationary orbit (including the orbital module high-apogee transfer profile using lunar gravity assist maneuver). It demonstrates that the single-stage ADU will have a number of important advantages over both a single-stage oxygen-hydrogen ADU and a functionally similar two-stage acceleration/deceleration system of an orbital module in the form of a tandem stack of an oxygen-hydrogen acceleration stage and correction and braking stage. To assure the start-ups of the main liquid propulsion system of the ADU, it proposes a new method for inertial propellant component phase separation in the tanks in zero-gravity environment using a pre-startup pre-programmed ullage separation turn maneuver of the orbital unit about its transverse axis of inertia.

Numerical Investigation of the Effects of High Reynolds and Marangoni Numbers on Thermocapillary Droplet Migration

This paper presents the results of the thermocapillary motion of a spherical droplet under Marangoni flow conditions, which takes place in a zero-gravity environment where buoyancy effects become insignificant. In such an environment the droplet moves from the cold region to the warm region due to the variation of surface tension induced by the temperature gradient. This two-phase flow problem is formulated using a 3D CFD model linked with four user-defined functions (UDFs) where the liquid–liquid interface is tracked using the “volume of fluid (VOF)” method and the “geometric reconstruction” scheme. The droplet interface was captured using the “Piece-wise Linear Interface Calculation (PLIC)” approach as a part of the VOF method. A constant temperature gradient was assumed in the stagnant liquid bounded medium. The results obtained cover low, intermediate, and high thermal Marangoni numbers (MaT ≤ 105), which were not covered before in numerical or space onboard experimental results. It was found that the droplet deforms as it elongates in the direction of the temperature gradient. The scaled droplet velocity decreases as the thermal Marangoni number increases for the full range of MaT. In addition, the scaled droplet velocity has been correlated with the thermal Marangoni number of a single droplet migrating in the zero-gravity condition, based on the results of the present work.

Designing clinical trials for future space missions as a pathway to changing how clinical trials are conducted on Earth.

The project aims to build a framework for conducting clinical trials for long-term interplanetary missions to contribute to innovation in clinical trials on Earth, especially around patient involvement and ownership. We conducted two workshops in which participants were immersed in the speculative scenario of an interplanetary mission in which health problems emerged that required medical trials to resolve. The workshops used virtual reality and live simulation to mimic a zero-gravity environment and visual perception shifts and were followed by group discussion. Some key aspects for the framework that emerged from the workshops included: (a) approaches to be inclusive in the management of the trial, (b) approaches to be inclusive in designing the research project (patient preference trials, n-of-1 trials, designing clinical trials to be part of a future prospective meta-analysis, etc), (c) balancing the research needs and the community needs (eg, allocation of the participants based on both research and community need), (d) ethics and partnerships (ethics and consent issues and how they relate to partnerships and relationships). In identifying some key areas that need to be incorporated in future planning of clinical trials for interplanetary missions, we also identified areas that are relevant to engaging patients in clinical trials on Earth. We will suggest using the same methodology to facilitate more in-depth discussions on specific aspects of clinical trials in aerospace medicine. The methodology can be more widely used in other areas to open new inclusive conversations around innovating research methodology.