Space Resilience: Engineering the Human Side of Spaceflight
By Dr. Adriana Gudiño
Founder of MER Root Lab – Aerospace Biotechnology & Regenerative Health
In recent years, commercial and suborbital spaceflight has rapidly evolved, expanding beyond military and scientific missions into a new era of civilian participation. While spacecraft design and propulsion systems have seen remarkable progress, one critical area remains vastly underdeveloped: the comprehensive protection of the human body and mind in extreme environments.
As a researcher in biotechnology and regenerative health, I have observed a persistent gap between technical readiness and the biological reality of the human body. Astronaut training protocols often focus on physical endurance and emergency scenarios, but lack integrated strategies to support neurocognitive, vestibular, and systemic biological resilience.
The reality is simple yet concerning: human physiology has not evolved for microgravity, pressure shifts, or cosmic radiation exposure. While simulations and centrifuge training may prepare candidates for acceleration, they do not address the subtler—but equally critical—stressors such as disorientation, vestibular conflict, neurochemical imbalance, or immune suppression triggered by spaceflight conditions.
At MER Root Lab, we are currently developing a multidisciplinary line of biotechnological tools designed to support human adaptation to microgravity. These include early-stage nutraceuticals, non-pharmacological neuroprotective strategies, and wearable technologies focused on preserving sensory balance and cognitive clarity. The goal is not to replace current training methods, but to enhance human preparedness through a more systemic and anticipatory approach.
This is not about creating a new class of "space tourists." It is about recognizing that even highly trained individuals—astronauts, pilots, engineers—require true physiological support to maintain optimal function in non-terrestrial environments. Just as spacecrafts need shielding and redundancy systems, the human body deserves its own form of internal shielding—rooted in science, not assumption.
Space exploration is not a game. And while we celebrate each new launch, we must also evolve the conversation around what it means to be ready. The future of space travel will not be defined solely by propulsion, but by how well we understand and protect the complex biology of those who dare to leave Earth.
Dr. Adriana Gudiño is a physician, researcher and founder of MER Root Lab, a biotechnology company focused on regenerative health and space-adapted systems. She collaborates with the European Space Agency (ESA) and is developing integrative strategies for human optimization in extreme environments
More information on merrootlab.com/
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