\tScience & Exploration<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t23\/04\/2026
\n\t\t\t\t845 views
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Six volunteers have stepped into a sealed habitat in Cologne, Germany, marking the start of SOLIS100, a new human isolation study led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and conducted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).<\/p>\n
For 100 days, the participants will live and work under conditions designed to mirror the demands of long\u2011duration space missions beyond low Earth orbit.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAngelique Van Ombergen speaks during the panel on human and robotic exploration strategy<\/a><\/p>\n To shed light on the scientific objectives behind the study and its role in preparing for future human space exploration, we spoke with Angelique Van Ombergen, ESA\u2019s chief exploration scientist.<\/p>\n With a background in medical sciences and extensive experience in human spaceflight research<\/a> on ground and linked to the International Space Station, Angelique explains how studies such as SOLIS100 help ESA address the human challenges of missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCan you explain what the SOLIS100 isolation study is?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Angelique: The SOLIS100 Isolation Study is a 100\u2011day human isolation experiment designed to better understand how prolonged confinement and social isolation affect people.\u00a0\u00a0The study focuses on the psychological, behavioural, cognitive and physiological challenges that astronauts are expected to face during future long\u2011duration missions, such as extended stays on the Moon or journeys to Mars.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSOLIS100 isolation study participants<\/a><\/p>\n SOLIS100 is conducted at DLR\u2019s :envihab<\/a> research facility in Cologne, Germany \u2014 a highly controlled space analogue environment specifically designed for human spaceflight research. Six participants aged between 26 and 32, from six different European countries, live and work in isolation for the full 100 days, following structured daily schedules and operational constraints similar to those of a space mission.<\/p>\n We will perform a wide range of scientific experiments, as well as technology demonstrations related to space exploration. We will also run experiments from the United Arab Emirates\u2019 national space centre, MBRSC.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat do you expect to gain from this research and why is it important for future missions?<\/p>\n Angelique: The results of studies such as SOLIS100 help identify early markers of health and performance degradation, improve understanding of why individuals adapt differently to extreme environments and refine medical and operational risk models.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSOLIS100 crew by :envihab<\/a><\/p>\n Data collected during bed rest and dry immersion studies support the development of countermeasures to protect cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of thrombosis and mitigate musculoskeletal and neuro\u2011ocular changes associated with microgravity.<\/p>\n In parallel, isolation studies such as SOLIS100 provide insights for crew psychological support, selection and training, circadian rhythm management and team cohesion. These aspects are essential for missions in which real\u2011time support from Earth is limited or impossible, such as long\u2011duration lunar missions or future journeys to Mars.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHow does SOLIS100 differ from other spaceflight analogue studies, such as bed rest, and why are both approaches important for future exploration missions?<\/p>\n Angelique: Bed rest and dry immersion studies focus on a different aspect of spaceflight. They are microgravity analogues, designed to reproduce the physiological effects of weightlessness on the human body, such as fluid shifts, cardiovascular deconditioning, muscle and bone loss, and changes in blood flow.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tLying down for space research<\/a><\/p>\n By contrast, SOLIS100 does not simulate microgravity. Instead, it investigates the human consequences of long-term isolation and confinement, including limited social interaction. The study examines impacts on mental health, team dynamics, stress regulation, sleep, cognitive performance, as well as changes in the crew and habitat microbiome.<\/p>\n Both approaches are essential, as no single ground\u2011based analogue can replicate all aspects of spaceflight. Physiological deconditioning caused by microgravity, psychological strain resulting from isolation and operational challenges linked to increased autonomy and decision\u2011making represent different yet interacting risk domains.<\/p>\n By running bed rest, dry immersion and isolation studies in parallel, ESA can address the full spectrum of risks relevant to future exploration missions. This integrated research strategy ensures that both the physiological and human behavioural challenges of long\u2011duration missions are addressed.<\/p>\n