Back in 2024, dentognostics joined the M.A.R.S. (Mars Analog Research Simulation) team's research project at UCLouvain for its upcoming mission. Due to the high relevance of the topic, we were also invited to accompany the M.A.R.S. simulation study in April 2025 with our in vitro diagnostics.

After all, healthy teeth for all crew members are essential for the success of the Mars missions, which can last up to two years. Astronauts are exposed to 700 times more cosmic radiation on their expeditions into space than on Earth. In combination with weightlessness, the stress associated with the mission and their diet, astronauts have a significantly higher risk of increased collagen degradation, which can lead to bone and tooth loss during the long Mars missions.

The biomarker aMMP-8 was used to test the international Atlas 2024 crew last year during their two-week expedition at the space training camp in Utah (USA). The easy-to-use saliva test uses a measuring device to provide information about the collagen status within a few minutes, which is elevated in the case of gum disease and stress, as stress has an impact on the human immune system.