The Hypatia Mars association presented, at the Modernist Building of Hospital Sant Pau, the second mission of female researchers of different ages and disciplines, which will take place from 2 to 15 February at the Mars Research Desert Station (MDRS) in the Utah desert, United States.
During this mission, a new crew of analogue astronauts will live in isolation conditions, coinciding with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on 11 February. The project will once again have the collaboration of the Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) and Hospital Sant Pau, both of which already participated in the first mission.
The Hypatia II project encompasses a series of initiatives aimed at exploring and overcoming the challenges posed by space exploration in terms of health, well-being, and sustainability from a female perspective. Within this framework, a project focused on menstrual health stands out, led by Dr Marina Martínez, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), supported by a Margarita Salas grant. She is also a member of the Center for Advanced Sample Analysis of Astromaterials from the Moon and Beyond (Chip Shearer, PI) at SSERVI (NASA). In this project, she will collaborate with Dr Joaquim Calaf and Dr Josep Perelló, researchers from the Reproductive Health Group at IR Sant Pau and the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Service at Hospital Sant Pau.
This project addresses an often-overlooked issue: how to manage menstrual cyclicity during space missions, especially long-duration ones, such as the colonisation of the Moon or Mars. Currently, the suppression of the menstrual cycle through hormonal methods is a common practice among astronauts. However, this solution can lead to gender inequalities and negative implications for the female body.
The project is structured around three main areas of action aimed at integrating the perspective of female cyclicity in space exploration.
First, it seeks to make the female hormonal cycle visible and respected by incorporating this knowledge into the organisation of space missions. This includes adapting tasks, work rhythms, and environmental conditions to the specific needs of each phase of the crew members’ cycles.
Second, the project prioritises research and the implementation of sustainable solutions for menstrual management. Among these solutions, the use of the menstrual cup, developed in collaboration with AstroCup, stands out as an alternative that helps reduce waste, improve hygiene, and ensure greater comfort in microgravity environments.
Finally, the project explores the potential of menstrual blood as fertiliser through experiments with plants grown in space conditions. The goal is to assess its viability as a useful resource within an efficient recycling system aligned with the zero-waste principle.
This project is just one of the multiple research lines being developed within the Hypatia II programme, a multidisciplinary initiative that promotes a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative approach to space exploration. The knowledge gained from these investigations will not only benefit space missions but also have direct applications on Earth in areas such as health, sustainability, and gender equality.
Last update: 29 de January de 2025
