Andreas Mogensen in sleeping quarters with Sleep In Orbit

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen in his crew quarters on the International Space Stationis running the Sleep in Orbit experiment wearing a small in-ear measuring device.

Astronauts on the Space Station do a full circle of Earth every 90 minutes and experience 16 sunsets and sunrises every day. With this unearthly routine, astronauts can struggle to find a natural daily rhythm in space. The Space Station follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which helps keep a consistent schedule, along with regular wake-up and bedtime routines.

Many astronauts have difficulty adjusting to sleeping in space. Instead of lying down, astronauts float in a sleeping bag strapped to the wall of their sleeping quarters.

Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, have developed a small in-ear measuring device that Andreas will wear while sleeping on the Space Station. Similar to in-ear headphones, this device will measure the electroencephalogram (EEG) of Andreas’s brain, allowing researchers to analyse his brain activity throughout the night to help understand the quality of his sleep.

The usual way of measuring EEG is with a helmet-style measurement device, which can often be discomforting due to the size and many wires. The in-ear devices are less invasive and easier to put in before going to bed.

Read more about the Huginn mission and the science that Andreas will conduct while he is on the Huginn mission.