SpaceX CRS-33 International Space Station resupply mission carries Canadian technologies
The SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply vehicle blasts off towards the International Space Station. (Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA’s SpaceX CRS-33 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled to launch on from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Dragon cargo vehicle will carry technologies to assist with ongoing experiments, including the Canadian-made Bio-Monitor.
The Bio-Monitor is a wearable technology (consisting of a smart shirt, headband and dedicated tablet application) that helps keep an eye on astronauts' health by continuously measuring vital signs. This data is crucial to several studies onboard the ISS, including Vascular Calcium, a Canadian experiment part of the Vascular series. Vascular Calcium investigates how long-duration space missions can affect the arteries and insulin resistance, as well as calcium loss in bones and the cardiovascular risks this may pose.
During their stay in space, astronauts experience health challenges similar to certain conditions on Earth, but they happen at an accelerated rate. This gives researchers a unique opportunity to gather data much faster. Space research not only help astronauts live healthier in space. It also contributes to advancing discoveries that can lead to better health outcomes here on Earth.