310: Biomedical Monitoring for Astronauts (BMA)

Spacesuit design is currently an active area of research. Engineers and scientists are always working to improve current and future missions in space. Working in a pressurized suit in outer space presents a range of challenges. These include monitoring the in-suit environment and the astronaut’s health. We created a sensor system for monitoring an astronaut’s health and in-suit environment. Our goal was to accurately measure critical metrics for research and safety purposes.

Our sensor system consists of three modules, the first of which is a set of environmental sensors for measuring CO₂ concentration, ambient temperature and humidity. To monitor astronaut health, we designed a set of biomedical sensors on the foot to measure heart rate, sweat levels and body temperature. Finally, a main processing unit reads and interprets sensor data. We designed and fabricated a custom printed circuit board to house the processor. The device can measure selected variables, store them locally and transmit the data to an external device. This project was a proof-of-concept design to monitor astronaut vital signs and the environmental conditions in a spacesuit. Our final deliverable serves as a prototype for a sensor unit that could be used during an extravehicular activity mission.