AIIMS to help Isro develop space medicine for Indian astronauts going to the Moon

The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on medical research and technologies needed to support astronauts during long-duration missions.

In Short

• Scientists will also work on developing specialised medical devices
• These treatment procedures will be designed specifically for space environments
• Another area of focus will be infectious disease control

India is taking another step toward human space exploration, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) signing a major collaboration agreement with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to advance research in space medicine.

The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on medical research and technologies needed to support astronauts during long-duration missions.

The agreement was exchanged between Shri Dinesh Kumar Singh, Director of the Human Spaceflight Centre, and Dr Srinivas M, Director of AIIMS. The signing took place in the presence of V Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space.

The collaboration aims to address the complex health challenges that astronauts face in the extreme environment of space.

Long-duration missions planned by India, including the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station and future crewed missions to the Moon, will expose astronauts to conditions such as microgravity, radiation, isolation and confined living environments.

These conditions can significantly affect the human body. Prolonged exposure to microgravity can lead to muscle loss, bone density reduction, changes in immune response, and alterations in brain and cardiovascular functions.

The new partnership seeks to study these effects in detail and develop solutions to maintain astronaut health and performance.

Under the MoU, researchers from ISRO and AIIMS will conduct both ground-based and space-based studies across several fields.

These include human physiology, behavioural health, immunology, gut microbiome research, neuroscience and neurophysiology, nutrition and metabolic health, and musculoskeletal degeneration in microgravity.

Scientists will also work on developing specialised medical devices, treatment procedures and monitoring protocols designed specifically for space environments.

Another area of focus will be infectious disease control and preventive measures for astronauts during long-duration missions.

Experts say such collaboration is essential for building India’s capability in human spaceflight. As missions extend beyond low Earth orbit and last for months or even years, ensuring astronaut safety and health becomes one of the most critical aspects of mission planning.

The partnership is also expected to benefit healthcare research on Earth. Technologies and medical knowledge developed for extreme space conditions often lead to innovations in diagnostics, rehabilitation and remote healthcare systems.

Through the agreement, ISRO and AIIMS aim to build long-term institutional cooperation, strengthen interdisciplinary research and support India’s growing human spaceflight ambitions.

Officials said the collaboration will not only advance space medicine but also create new opportunities for scientists, doctors and engineers working at the intersection of space science and biomedical research in the country.

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