Measuring body temperature for scientific research in microgravity

It is important to investigate the effects of thermoregulation during spaceflight. In fact, control of core body temperature is a prerequisite for ensuring astronauts’ mental and physical well-being. Traditional approaches to monitor deep body temperature such as rectal temperature, are too invasive and unsafe for long-duration core body temperatures monitoring on space stations. About a decade ago, as a result of their research supported both by DLR and ESA, Professor Hanns-Christian Gunga of the Centre of Space Medicine of Charité University Hospital in Berlin and his science team developed together with the company Draegerwerk in Lübeck, a non-invasive double sensor. The device was tested on astronauts during their stay on the space station and revealed itself as accurate as invasive methods.