Why astronauts spend a full year in orbit to prepare for deep space

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: To reach the Moon and Mars, humanity must first master the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body. By conducting year-long missions on the International Space Station, researchers are gathering critical data on health, plant growth, and tissue engineering to build a blueprint for future deep-space exploration.

The journey toward long-duration spaceflight began with missions like the one launched on March 27, 2015, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. During this expedition, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko spent a full year aboard the orbital complex. Their primary objective was to study how the human body adapts to the rigors of extended time in space, a necessary step for understanding the physiological toll of missions that will eventually take humans far beyond low Earth orbit.

Modern missions, such as the SpaceX Crew-13 flight, continue this legacy by integrating advanced research into daily operations. Launched from Cape Canaveral in October 2026, this crew is tasked with diverse experiments, including the production of human stem cell-derived tissues. By utilizing the unique environment of microgravity, scientists aim to improve personalized medicine and disease modeling for conditions like Parkinson’s and heart disease. These efforts are not merely for the benefit of those in orbit; they provide essential insights into human health that have direct applications for life back on Earth.

Beyond human biology, these missions are testing the infrastructure required for self-sustaining travel. Crew-13 is evaluating autonomous plant growth systems, exploring how crops might thrive outside of dedicated facilities. Simultaneously, they are testing new inflight diagnostic tools to monitor health and investigating the causes of blood-flow abnormalities in microgravity. As NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program partners with private entities to maintain this steady cadence of research, every successful docking and experiment serves as a building block for the agency’s broader strategy to reach the Moon, Mars, and the unknown frontiers beyond.

The operational efficiency of these missions has also evolved significantly. The Crew-13 mission achieved the fastest launch-to-docking sequence in the history of the International Space Station, completing its journey in approximately 7 hours and 50 minutes. This rapid transit, monitored from mission control centers in California and Texas, demonstrates the maturing capabilities of commercial partnerships. By refining these logistics, NASA ensures that the station remains a viable laboratory for the critical science that will ultimately define the next era of human spaceflight.

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