1. Obtain biological samples from crewmembers at feasibly accessible sites susceptible to infection (e.g., mucosa and skin) during the course of a mission, to determine the type, species and relative prevalence of microorganisms that have direct contact with the crew and compare the in-flight samples to pre-flight and post-flight samples.
2. Obtain samples from crewmembers GI tract pre- and post-flight and compare the type, species and relative prevalence of microorganisms in the samples.
3. Assess crewmember hygiene, immune function, nutritional status, and general health at the time microbial samples are obtained.
4. Relate the data collected to address the aims described above to temperature, humidity, and other relevant parameters of the spacecraft.

1. Optimize flight requirements for equipment to monitor microorganisms.
2. Demonstrate feasibility of hardware that can provide information on the microorganisms that will allow the crew to make autonomous decisions that will limit their risk of infectious disease and allergic response.

In addition to AEH10 this task also supports AEH7, AEH8, and AEH9.

There are no procedures currently in place to monitor immune function or its effect on crew health.  Immune dysregulation has been demonstrated to occur during spaceflight, yet little in-flight immune data has been generated to assess whether or not this may be a clinical problem.  This SMO will assess the clinical risks resulting from the adverse effects of space flight on the human immune system and will validate a flight-compatible immune monitoring strategy.  The correlation between in-flight immunity, physiological stress and a measurable clinical outcome (viral reactivation) will be determined for long- vs. short-duration space flight.

1. The objective of this Supplemental Medical Objective (SMO) is  1) to develop and validate an immune monitoring strategy consistent with operational flight requirements and constraints.