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An interplanetary odyssey as ambitious as it is 8217;a journey to the planet Mars will not happen with the snap of a finger. If we hope to one day colonize the Red Planet, we will first have to get there; based on the most favorable estimates, the trip could take between six and nine months.
Elon Musk may well show a certain optimism about this outsized project, but ;from a medical point of view, it's a bit of a problem. A recent scientific investigation, published in the journal npj Microgravity, uncovers a new problem: the majority of pharmaceutical treatments currently used in space may become ineffective before explorers even return to our planet.
Drug degradation in space
The study was conducted jointly by Daniel Buckland, professor of emergency medicine at Duke University, and Thomas E. Diaz, resident pharmacist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. According to the results of this study, more than 50% of the medicines stored during the trip (antihistamines, antibiotics, analgesics and sleeping pills) would reach their expiration date prematurely.
The space environment, far more inhospitable than our peaceful Earth atmosphere, would put the chemicals in the compounds under severe strain. Exposing them to space radiation will significantly accelerate their deterioration.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the International Space Station's (ISS) pharmaceutical inventory.
Their in-depth examination of 91 drugs revealed that 54 of them had a shelf life of no more than 36 months. According to the most optimistic projections, about 60% of these treatments would become obsolete before the completion of a Mars mission. In a more pessimistic scenario, this rate could reach the worrying threshold of 98%.
Consequences for space missions
The inability to renew pharmaceutical stocks is a major pitfall for long-duration space expeditions. Professor Buckland points out that, unlike the occupants of the ISS who benefit from instantaneous communication with Earth and regular resupply, Martian explorers will find themselves in a much more precarious situation.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000This observation goes beyond the strictly medical framework and encompasses all vital resources, including food. The lack of resupply therefore makes it imperative to select drugs with increased longevity and to develop anticipatory strategiesto overcome this problem.
Faced with this possible loss of medicinal effectiveness, one of the avenues envisaged consists of increasing the quantities on board . However, this approach does not solve the problem at the root.
Diaz emphasizes: “ Those responsible for the health of space crews will absolutely have to develop innovative methods to extend the life of drugs, or else assume the increased risks linked to the administration of expired substances “.
What to do in this case& ;nbsp;? Because, yes, these conclusions seriously call into question the feasibility of extended space missions. We could imagine the development of new drugs, specially designed to withstand the rigors of space.
The improvement of storage and packaging solutions (radiation-resistant packaging, storage compartments) could also be a possibility to consider. Print medicines in 3D directly on board the shuttle to reduce the need for prolonged storage ? Harnessing microgravity to develop new methods of chemical synthesis and manufacture pharmaceutical compounds on site ? In all cases, the subject will absolutely have to be explored and will require additional research, c&# 8217;is obvious.
- More than 50% of the medicines taken on a mission to Mars would expire before returning, mainly due to space radiation.
- The inability to resupply during the mission will require the development of new strategies to manage medical resources.
- Further research will be needed to resolve this issue.
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