Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31842: Breathing Easy in Space: The Role of Personal CO2 Monitors on the ISS

Maintaining air quality in space is more than a comfort issue—it’s a matter of health and safety. On Earth, we take clean air for granted, but aboard the International Space Station, even small imbalances can pose risks. The "Personal CO2 Monitor" experiment, led by Justin Bautista at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, aimed to track carbon dioxide exposure in real time using compact wearable sensors. Carbon dioxide builds up from crew respiration and is usually removed by environmental systems. However, localized CO2 pockets can form, especially during sleep or exercise, leading to headaches, fatigue, or worse. The experiment spanned Expeditions 47/48 and 49/50, and tested wearable monitors designed to measure the exact CO2 concentration around an astronaut’s face throughout the day. These personal monitors provided granular data not possible with fixed sensors alone. They showed how CO2 levels vary with location, activity, and ventilation efficiency. This data helped engineers optimize airflow and crew placement. It also demonstrated the potential for wearable sensors in future spacecraft, where real-time health monitoring will be critical. Personal CO2 monitoring isn't just for astronauts—it could also benefit submariners, miners, or even office workers on Earth. This ISS experiment proved that miniaturized environmental tracking could be both practical and powerful. It’s a breath of fresh air for space safety and a blueprint for wearable tech applications back on Earth.

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