Polaris Project: Radiation Assessment DuRing Exposure and long-Duration Spaceflight (RADREADS)

Enabling Capabilities special project series: Polaris Project, small flight experiments or risk reduction projects to fulfill high-priority capabilities gaps.

Long duration spaceflight missions pose a high risk of radiation exposure to crew members, increasing the likelihood of cancer and degenerative diseases. NASA currently uses physical dosimetry to measure radiation exposure, which determines the empirical dose of radiation but not the individual’s dose or their physiological responses. Knowledge of each person’s effective dose through radiation biodosimetry will reduce risk by guiding countermeasures or alterations in duty and upon return. Our goal is to enable minimally invasive, fast, easy-to-use radiation biodosimetry technology that is sensitive to levels expected of a solar particle event (SPE)

Development of a novel, end-to-end technology system that goes from whole blood to quantitative personalized results with less crew time and training than current heritage Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods on the ISS today. We will do this by developing a microfluidic cartridge to carry out a benchtop assay. This cartridge will prepare the sample for a quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) device, which will give quantitative measurements of micro-RNAs for individuals exposed to radiation.

Major Milestones:

FY22:

• Q1: Defining engineering and science requirements
• Q2: Design review of V1 of microfluidic chip
• Q3: First iteration manufactured + component level testing
• Q4: System integrated and tested for V1, radiation resting

• Year 1 review: V1 proof of concept

  FY23:

• Q1: Redesign complete (V2) from lessons learned on V1
• Q2: V2 fabrication
• Q3: V2 integration & testing
• Q4: Science validation,
• Year 2 Review: V2 device prototype and validation

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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