Gas sensing for space: Health and environmental monitoring

Humanity endeavors to resume crewed missions to the Moon and prepares for the exploration of Mars. These missions will require sustained human presence in space for longer periods than ever before. Space exposes astronauts to demanding conditions, including microgravity, radiation, rapid light-dark cycles, and hazardous chemicals. Gas sensors will be pivotal in preserving astronaut health by providing critical health data (e.g., through breath analysis) and space-resolved environmental information. Here, we explore the recent progress of gas sensors to meet the key needs of space exploration. First, the fundamental sensing principles of electrochemical, chemoresistive, mass-sensitive, and optical sensors are briefly introduced. Then, we connect space-related health challenges with suitable breath markers and sensor solutions, encompassing areas like gut microbiome, muscle activity, cardiovascular health, hepatic and renal function, and circadian rhythm. Finally, environmental exposure guidelines and suitable sensor innovations for distributed air quality monitoring in space vehicles and habitats are presented.