The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for cooperation in space medicine and research.

According to ISRO, the MoU aims to promote joint research aligned with ISRO’s priority areas, with a shared objective of advancing human health, performance and safety during human space missions.

ISRO said that long duration human space missions such as Bharatiya Antariksh Station and crewed missions to Moon offer unique medical challenges due to the extreme space environment and microgravity.

“This cooperation is targeted to conduct ground and space-based studies to develop multidisciplinary space medicine expertise, medical devices, procedure and protocols to maintain human health and performance under extreme space environments as well as advance healthcare for the nation,” the space agency said.

It added that focused research and developments are planned in the fields of human physiology, behavioural health, immunology and gut microbiome, biomedical, neuroscience and neurophysiology, nutrition and metabolic health, musculoskeletal atrophy and aging in microgravity, infectious diseases control and countermeasures for improving human health and performance in space environment.

“Through this research collaboration, ISRO and AIIMS reaffirm their commitment to advancing space medicine, fostering interdisciplinary research and building long-term institutional cooperation to support India’s human space flight programme initiatives and it will also spur new innovations and creates new opportunities for the scientific community in the country,” the space agency said.

Sea level test of cryogenic engine

ISRO successfully conducted a sea level hot test of its cryogenic engine (CE20) at 22 tonne thrust using nozzle protection system and multi-element igniter on March 10 at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri in Odisha.

Earlier, the sea level tests utilizing nozzle protection systems were being carried out at 19 tonne thrust level. The CE20 cryogenic engine powers the upper cryogenic stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle.