How astronauts sleep in space

The environmental conditions astronauts live in can profoundly alter both the amount and the quality of their sleep, with important consequences for crew decision-making and the safety of space missions.

To address this problem, the researchers behind the SOMNIIA MONITOR project have designed a smart mask capable of continuously and non-invasively capturing the main physiological parameters of astronauts’ sleep.

“In the context of space missions, traditional sleep-monitoring systems are often complex and difficult to adapt,” explains Matteo Cerri, a professor at the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences - DIBINEM at the University of Bologna, one of the project leads. “The mask we have developed overcomes these limitations thanks to a lightweight, integrated design, which makes it possible to carry out a full polysomnography with a significantly lower level of invasiveness.”

Promoted by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and coordinated by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the project has developed a technology capable of continuously monitoring sleep even in complex operational environments such as a space mission.

The mask contains a range of sensors that collect essential information such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature and involuntary movements, as well as a set of electrodes to record brain activity. The data collected are then analysed by artificial intelligence algorithms to identify the different sleep stages and, in turn, provide a complete picture of sleep quality.

The University of Bologna team, coordinated by Professor Matteo Cerri together with Professors Roberto Amici, Federica Provini and Vincenzo Natale, carried out the tests needed to verify its proper functioning and effectiveness, with a view to its experimental use aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

“The results of our tests confirm the reliability of the physiological signals of sleep recorded and show that this device is able to combine physiological accuracy with ease of use,” Cerri says. “This is an important step forward for sleep monitoring in extreme environments, with potential applications in the aerospace, clinical and human performance sectors.”