Portuguese Navy Submarine Joins ESA’s Quest for the Cosmos

To gain a better insight into how deep-space missions affect crews, the European Space Agency, the Portuguese Space Agency, and the Portuguese Navy are undertaking a rigorous isolation and confinement study aboard a submarine.

The initial scientific mission of the Isolation and Standard Measures for ESA Submarine Missions (SubSea ISM) program is currently being carried out on one of the Portuguese Navy’s two diesel-electric Tridente-class submarines, constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) shipyard in Germany. This study involves researchers from the University Hospital of Munich, the University of Florence, and Lusófona University in Lisbon.

Throughout the 60-day operation, scientists will administer questionnaires and gather hair and saliva samples. This will enable them to monitor stress indicators such as cortisol and observe alterations in the crew’s immune health to determine how the body adjusts over the length of the mission.

“These initiatives not only enhance our understanding of extreme environments but also play an essential role in equipping the global space community for the challenges posed by future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond,” stated Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration.

Alongside performing analogue operations on Earth, ESA has initiated the early phases of establishing a crew transportation program to ensure sovereign access to space for European astronauts.

In July, ESA disclosed that it had granted a contract to Arianespace to investigate the practicality of utilizing the Ariane 6 for crewed space missions. In late 2023, ESA called for proposals for a European LEO cargo return service, stipulating that the chosen capsules must possess the ability to evolve into a crew transportation system “without significant modifications to their architecture.” Earlier this month, ESA issued a call for proposals aimed at the development of a new reusable rocket capable of deploying up to 60 tonnes into low Earth orbit. A crucial technical requirement for the rocket is its capacity to support a crew transportation system.

While ESA has already conveyed its intention to initiate a crew transportation program, any substantial funding or clearly defined political backing for the program will await the ESA ministerial council meeting scheduled for late 2025.