Underground Lab to Simulate Space
The University of Birmingham’s research team is working on the Bio-SPHERE (Biomedical Sub-surface Pod for Habitability and Extreme-environments Research in Expeditions) to simulate space.
The laboratory sits a little over one kilometer underground in a UK mine and provides a space to test equipment and simulate threats and obstacles for Artemis astronauts.
The tests will range from handling surface radiation, meteor strikes, and dust, to managing crew member workload efficiencies and preparing for medical emergencies.
Astronaut health and well-being is a focal point for technological efficiency testing, including regenerative technologies focused on the effects of how gravity impacts the body, and communication technologies that will undergo evolution in mitigating communication delays.
