Mission to motherhood: Human couples could soon give birth to babies in SPACE as we enter a ‘new era of exploration’, scientists claim
The idea of having a baby in space may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster.
But as we enter a ‘new era of discovery’, scientists say we are on the verge of it becoming a reality.
In a new paper, a group of international experts argue that discussions about reproductive health beyond the borders of planet Earth should become a top priority.
They argue that ‘the problem of human fertility in space is no longer theoretical but urgently practical’ as humanity turns its attention to long-duration missions such as Mars.
According to experts, there is not enough information about male or female fertility in space, nor about the development of embryos and subsequent babies in zero gravity.
Worryingly, they predict that space radiation could subject newborns to extreme developmental abnormalities, making their bodies unsuitable for returning to Earth’s gravity.
Dr. D., senior author of the study and a research scientist at NASA. “As human presence in space increases, reproductive health can no longer remain a policy blind spot,” said Fathi Karouia.
‘International collaboration is urgently needed to close critical knowledge gaps and establish ethical guidelines that protect astronauts, both professional and private, and ultimately safeguard humanity as we move towards a sustainable existence beyond Earth.’
Reproduction in space is not as easy as in Hollywood movies like the 1979 Bond film Moonraker
As we enter a ‘new era of exploration’, scientists say we are on the verge of babies in space becoming a reality
The combination of low gravity and high radiation will have unknown effects on developing human embryos (file image)
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson stops to take a photo while working inside the Microgravity Sciences Glove Box. Various apparatus used in biological experiments on the ISS are comparable to equipment found in an IVF laboratory on Earth, experts say
The paper’s nine authors include experts in reproductive health, aviation medicine and bioethics.
They argue that urgent action is needed because the window for setting reproductive limits in space is rapidly closing.
‘Despite more than 65 years of human spaceflight activities, little is known about the impact of the space environment on human reproductive systems during long-duration missions,’ the review published in the journal states. Reproductive Biomedicine Onlinereader.
‘Extended stays in space pose potential hazards to the reproductive functions of male and female astronauts, including exposure to cosmic radiation, changing gravity, psychological and physical stress, and disruption of circadian rhythms.’
The team said current evidence suggests short-term missions did not significantly alter male fertility, as two of the Apollo astronauts had had children since their time in space.
On the other hand, a mission to Mars would require exposure to much higher levels of radiation; this could ‘potentially compromise testicular function, future fertility and the health of the offspring’.
Meanwhile, data from 40 female astronauts show that both pregnancy rates and related complications are comparable to those seen in women of the same age on Earth.
But as longer-duration missions for women become more common, “understanding the effects of spaceflight on reproductive endocrinology, hormones, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology beyond Earth is crucial,” the team said.
While the idea of having a baby in space may seem like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster, a new paper argues that discussions of reproductive health beyond the boundaries of planet Earth should become a top priority
Passengers kiss on a flight that simulates the weightlessness of space. Zero-gravity proximity is just one challenge facing extraterrestrial reproduction
Hazards and environmental factors that may affect humans and embryos in space, including microgravity and toxicity
Long-term space exploration could involve transporting eggs, sperm or embryos from Earth to other worlds, experts said in their paper.
Such a method may involve freeze-drying the egg or sperm for later use in IVF.
‘Various apparatus used in space and in biological experiments on the International Space Station are comparable to the equipment found in an IVF laboratory on Earth,’ they added.
They argue that both spaceflight and IVF evolved along a similar timeline.
And they said IVF was ‘poised to play a critical role in the future of human space exploration’.
“More than 50 years ago, two scientific breakthroughs reshaped what was thought to be biologically and physically possible: the first Moon landing and the first evidence of human in vitro fertilization,” said clinical embryologist Giles Palmer of the International IVF Initiative Inc. he said.
‘Now, more than half a century later, we argue in this report that these once separate revolutions are colliding in a practical and under-researched reality.
‘As space has become a workplace and destination, assisted reproductive technologies have become highly advanced, increasingly automated and widely accessible.’
Previous studies have found that stem cells taken from mice frozen for six months on the International Space Station produced healthy offspring.
The Moon remains the most urgent and practical testing ground for understanding how life functions in reduced gravity, the team said.
‘This could serve as a natural springboard for controlled, ethical and carefully designed breeding studies that could one day enable sustainable life on Mars,’ they said.
Last year, researchers from Kyoto University showed that mouse eggs and sperm cells can survive in space and produce healthy offspring.
Meanwhile, Dutch Biotechnology startup Spaceborn United has placed the first miniature laboratory for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo processes into orbit.
“Humanity is steadily approaching the age of routine space travel, with visions of lunar and Martian settlements evolving from science fiction to commercial ambition,” the researchers said.
‘As space missions become longer and more diverse in crew composition, shifting from weeks to months and eventually years, understanding the risks to fertility and reproduction has become not only relevant but essential.’
