Saudi Arabia Teams Up with SpaceX to Explore Eye Microbiome in Space

Falak for Space Science and Research, a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, has launched the first Saudi research mission into the eye microbiome in space.

The eye microbiome study is scheduled for the end of this month as part of the FRAM2 mission in polar orbit, and it is being conducted in collaboration with SpaceX.

The organization's efforts to further scientific research in space medicine include this investigation of the eye microbiome in space. Its objective is to look into how microgravity affects the eye's natural microbiome, which could help astronauts better understand eye health and open up new medical applications back on Earth.

The agency claims that the launch phase met the highest scientific and technical standards because the preparation, integration, and transportation phases were executed flawlessly.

The research team successfully collected biological samples and carried out precise microbial cultivation in specialized laboratories. The integration phase, which included extensive environmental and mechanical testing, was also completed to ensure that the samples could withstand launch conditions and safely return from space.

An emerging area of research is the study of the eye microbiome in space. Analysis of the growth rates of the eye microbiome in space as opposed to Earth's environment, examination of the genetic and proteomic alterations brought on by exposure to microgravity, and evaluation of the microbes' capacity to form biofilms—which could raise the risk of infection in space—are the main contributions of this experiment.

The experiment will also look at changes in microbial resistance to antibiotics after exposure to microgravity, which may take longer to develop.

This study is part of a global effort to investigate the effects of space on human health. While similar research has looked into the effects of microgravity on the gastrointestinal and oral microbiomes, the eye microbiome is still being studied.

This mission contributes significantly to closing a critical research gap and improving scientific understanding of the effects of space on eye health.