Portuguese Space Agency, ESA and Portuguese Navy Collaborate on Innovative Scientific Projects for Space Exploration

In preparation for long-term space missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO)—to destinations like the Moon, Mars, and farther, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its international partners have been using the International Space Station (ISS) for more than two decades to conduct many experiments in the space environment, including the study of the effects of spaceflight on human health. At the ISS, astronauts are exposed to microgravity and space radiation and live and work in a very confined and isolated environment, posing many physiological and psychological challenges. Given the limited resources of the ISS and the complexity of space activities, ESA also depends on Earth-based research and has extensively utilized terrestrial sites and facilities as space analogues. These environments enable the agency to study the impact of spaceflight on astronaut’s health and to test scientific ideas and technologies to serve as countermeasures that will eventually benefit both space exploration and life on Earth.

In this context, the Portuguese Space Agency, ESA, and the Portuguese Navy intend to use Portuguese Navy submarines and their crew as high-fidelity isolation and confinement analogues. The first scientific mission of the Isolation Standard Measures for ESA Submarine Missions (SubSea ISM) is on-going and is expected to last approximately sixty days.

Submarines replicate the isolation, confined environments, and operational challenges of space missions, making them ideal for studying how these conditions affect crew members and for developing strategies to help them cope. They serve as valuable analogues for testing new techniques and technologies and for gathering data to improve future human spaceflight missions. Their use will significantly enhance Portugal’s contribution to space research, offering a unique marine dimension to the existing range of analogue sites and facilities across Europe.

By integrating knowledge from submarine and astronaut research communities, the findings have the potential to drive innovations in human health. These insights are particularly relevant for both space and terrestrial contexts, such as polar stations, military environments, clinical disorders (e.g., seasonal affective disorder, depression, and sleep disturbances), extended hiking expeditions, populations living in prolonged darkness, and even mining operations. This cross-disciplinary approach fosters advancements that benefit both space exploration and sustainable practices on our planet.

“This mission aligns perfectly with Portugal’s growing focus on analogue activities and space medicine”, states Ricardo Conde, president of the Portuguese Space Agency. “It reinforces our strategic commitment to developing space exploration infrastructure and expertise within the country, partnering with international and national institutions, further positioning us as a key player in the global space sector.”

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, further highlights the importance of the partnership with Portugal: “These efforts not only deepen our understanding of extreme environments but also play a crucial role in preparing the global space community for the challenges of future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond”.

“The Navy is very proud to be taking part in this Subsea experiment. An experiment led by the ESA in which we take part through submarines,” states Admiral Gouveia e Melo, Chief of Staff of the Porrtuguese Navy. “Life on submarines is a very isolated life in confined spaces, hence our participation in this project, which pleases and honours us greatly”k, he adds.

Portugal also has several terrestrial analogue sites, such as the Capelinhos Volcano and Barreiro da Faneca in the Azores and the Selvagens Islands in Madeira. These locations, featured in the Portuguese Space Analogues – Catalogue of Sites and Facilities, closely resemble conditions found on celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. Together with the submarines, these sites and facilities reinforce Portugal’s capacity to host crucial space-related experiments and training programs.

This collaboration aims to not only expand the research platforms available to ESA but also to reinforce Portugal’s position as a key player in the field of space exploration, as well as. By leveraging its unique terrestrial and marine resources, Portugal is positioning itself as an essential hub for research, innovation, and training to support future space missions.