CONTENTS
Experimental and Theoretical Investigations
Ponomarev S, Belakovskiy M. The international SIRIUS-23 isolation experiment: an overview
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This paper provides a concise overview of the SIRIUS-23 experiment — a one-year isolation study conducted in a hermetic habitat with an artificial environment. The mission involved a mixed-gender international crew (2 men, 4 women) and was carried out at the unique ground-based facility of the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP RAS). We describe the experimental conditions, outline the scientific and operational-technical programs designed to address the challenges of biomedical support for long-duration space exploration missions beyond low Earth orbit, and present the general mission scenario.
Keywords: space flight, analog research, confinement in a hermetic habitat, SIRIUS, ground-based simulation
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 5-12.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-5-12
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Markin A.A. Homeostatic status of SIRIUS-23 experiment participants during 366-day isolation in a containment volume
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The 366-day isolation experiment conducted as part of the SIRIUS-23 project involved six subjects, four women and two men aged between 27 and 38. In addition to the factors of the hermetic volume, the subjects were exposed to simulated stressful situations, such as sleep deprivation, prolonged periods with limited access to food, water, and personal hygiene products, intense operator activities in a time-constrained environment, and a complete lack of communication with the control center. On-planet activities were also simulated. The subjects were also exposed to simulated lunar gravity conditions. During the isolation period, the homeostatic status of the participants in the experiment was studied using biochemical, hemostatic, hematological, and proteomic studies. The dynamics of the biochemical parameters studied during the experiment showed a stable decrease in the intensity of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, and electrolyte metabolism reactions as the duration of isolation increased. The metabolism of certain microelements also changed. The intensity of metabolism in the myocardium, muscle tissue, liver, and, indirectly, in bone tissue decreased. In the second half of the isolation period, the process of dissimilation became systemic, and its signs were observed in most of the studied metabolic pathways and in the metabolism of organs and tissues, starting from the 250th day of isolation. As a result, there was a decrease in the concentration of several components of the hemostasis system, and a slowdown in the integral rate of the internal and external cascades of blood clotting. At the same time, there was a decrease in the values of hematological indices, and a depletion of stored iron, which led to the development of a latent stage of iron deficiency anemia during the final stage of isolation and the early recovery period. During isolation, an increase in the levels of regulatory proteins was observed, apparently regulating the compensatory response to developing metabolic changes. On the fifth day of the recovery period, changes in most of the studied parameters persisted. On the 5th day of the recovery period, the changes in most of the studied indices persisted. Such shifts may reflect the formation of a new, altered level of homeostasis characterized by a lower metabolic intensity that corresponds to the specific features of the environment. Most of the changes in the values of the studied indices were observed within the reference ranges, indicating the adaptive nature of the body's responses to the altered environment and the impact of simulated stressors.
Keywords: space medicine, isolation in a pressurized volume, homeostasis, clinical biochemistry, hemostasis, hematology, blood proteome.
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 13-29.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-13-29
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Ponomarev S. The state of the human immune system during simulation of complex spaceflight factors under 366-day isolation in a hermetic artificial habitat (SIRIUS-23)
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The study participants were volunteers who took part in a 366-day isolation experiment inside a sealed, confined-volume habitat simulating the core conditions of a prospective interplanetary mission. The objective of the immunological investigations was to examine the impact of a 12-month confinement in this hermetic facility on the dynamics of a wide range of innate and adaptive immune system parameters. Research conducted at different phases of the SIRIUS-23 experiment revealed that the year-long isolation within an artificial habitat significantly affects the state of both innate and adaptive cellular immunity.
Key words. Innate immunity, adaptive immunity, spaceflight, isolation experiment
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 30-37.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-30-37
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Shved D.M. Main results of psychological and psychophysiological research in the SIRIUS project
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This article presents a brief overview of the main results of psychological and psychophysiological research in the international SIRIUS isolation project, dedicated to ground-based simulations of lunar missions.
Keywords: SIRIUS, isolation, simulation experiment, psychology, psychophysiology.
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 38-41.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-38-41
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Glukhikh D.O. Study of adaptation processes in the human body during simulation of a complex of space flight factors under conditions of isolation in a sealed facility with an artificial habitat (SIRIUS-23)
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The operational and technical research program for the SIRIUS-23 isolation experiment consisted of nine studies. These studies addressed the challenges of testing new technologies (robotics, augmented reality) in simulated spaceflight conditions, providing technical and information support to the crew during their professional activities, creating databases for medical support during simulated spaceflight for future autonomous manned expeditions, and monitoring the interpersonal relationships of the professional crew. All six crew members of the isolation experiment participated in the studies. The work was conducted in isolation conditions, during crew training (during base data collection), and after the completion of the isolation experiment. The primary organizations conducting the studies were the Russian State Scientific Center – Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Research Institute of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
Key words: operational and technical program, isolation experiment, medical and biological support
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 42-52.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-42-52
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Ilyin V.K., Usanova N.A., Solovyova Z.O., Morozova Yu.A., Starkova L.V., Nikitina K.S., Parfenova A.A. Pre- and probiotic activity in experiment SIRIUS-23
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Numerous previous studies have shown that systemic dysbiosis develops under conditions of isolation. The main goal of the SIRIUS-23 experiment was to study the mechanisms of human adaptation to a year-long isolation in a pressurized facility with an artificial habitat that simulates a manned space flight, with the development and testing of various preventive measures against the negative effects of a complex of isolation factors. The main objective of the microbiological studies was to assess the impact of short-term isolation of the crew in a pressurized facility that simulates a spacecraft on the human microbiocenosis. In the SIRIUS-23 experiment a prebiotic called "Lactoferrin" was used to correct the oral and pharyngeal microflora. In the first half of the experiment, the prebiotic Arabinogalactan, produced by Alphasigma, was used orally to correct the intestinal microflora. At the end of the experiment, the prebiotic Lactoferrin-ENTERO, produced by the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, and the probiotic ProxiMilk, produced by the Institute of Meat and Dairy Industry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, were used to correct the microflora of the dental system. The study involved 6 almost healthy test subjects (2 men and 4 women) aged 26 to 38.
Research has shown the potential of using lactoferrin and fermented milk products as components of therapeutic nutrition, although their activity is much lower than that of autoprobiotics. The use of bacteriophage-based preparations is promising for optimizing the microbial composition of the human dentition in an artificial environment. The use of arabinogalactan has led to the optimization of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the intestinal microflora during its application.
Keywords: eubiotic index, prebiotic, parodont-LOR, lactoferrin-Entero, proximilk, microbiota.
Aviakosmicheskaya i Ekologicheskaya Meditsina (Russia). 2026. V. 59. ¹ 7. P. 53-58.
DOI: 10.21687/0233-528X-2025-59-7-53-58
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Short communications
Popova Yu.A. Results of the physiology section at the Conference «SIRIUS – ISS – Moon – Mars»
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