LunAres Research Offer - 3 paths
Before submitting a proposal – please review our information of types of research that can be executed in LunAres.
There are 3 different options for research execution:
- Crew Member Study – PILOT WITHOUT THE COSTS
- External Study – COLLECT DATA ACROSS MISSIONS
- Prime Study – THE MISSION ADAPTS TO YOUR RESEARCH
- Did you read information on our website, and you still need a consultation first? – fill in a simple form
3 research paths characteristics
Crew Member Study – PILOT WITHOUT THE COSTS
Crew Member Study (CS) provides crew members with a no-cost opportunity to test research procedures, methods, or equipment during a LunAres mission. It is intended for small-scale research activities that can be conducted within a limited and predefined time allocation.
Crew Member Study is particularly suitable for testing procedures on the participating researcher, collecting preliminary data, or evaluating a research protocol before a larger study. It can also be used for activities that fit within a fixed individual research slot of up to 1 hour per day, without requiring additional mission resources or changes to the mission architecture.
The study must be submitted to and approved by the LunAres team before the mission. Research activities must fit within the available time slot and comply with mission safety and operational requirements.
To read more about the standard mission and its structure – go to the Crew Member Study site.
There are no additional costs for this kind of study if it is planned according to the Crew Member Study requirements.
Self-report and diary studies – track mood, workload, stress, fatigue, sleep, motivation, or mission experience over time.
Cognitive and performance tasks – collect repeated measurements of reaction time, vigilance, working memory, or other performance indicators.
Human–technology research – test interfaces, tools, software, or non-invasive technologies during real mission operations.
Method and feasibility studies – test a research procedure, measurement approach, or prototype before developing a larger study.
The Crew Member Study proposals should be submitted 2 months prior to the mission.
Submit Crew Member Study using this link.
External Study – COLLECT DATA ACROSS MISSIONS
External Study (ES) is a flexible research option for external researchers who require access to the LunAres mission environment to conduct studies ranging from low-overhead pilot projects to more complex longitudinal or multi-parameter research. The researcher does not need to be present on site or participate in a mission. External Studies are designed to be implemented within the standard LunAres mission structure and operational conditions. Research procedures should therefore be adapted to the existing mission schedule, habitat configuration, crew responsibilities, and standard operational procedures. The format is ideal for studies that need to collect statistical data throughout multiple missions.
Typical applications include human factors research, team dynamics, workload, stress and fatigue studies, usability testing of procedures, interfaces, tools and mission systems, software and non-invasive technology testing, survey-based and diary studies, human performance research, and longitudinal studies investigating physiology, health, workload, recovery, and adaptation. Studies may also involve repeated measurements, multiple data streams, or designated on-board coordination by a trained crew member where required by the research protocol.
The researcher conducting an External Study may also participate in the mission as a crew member. However, the research project would still be subject to the External Study submission process, review, and timeline, which must be initiated earlier than the submission timeline for a Crew Member Study (CS).
Mission participation and External Study research are treated as separate components. The mission participation fee applies in addition to the External Study research costs in case a researcher of External Study is also participating. The External Study does not automatically become Crew Member Study if the researcher is participating in a mission, as CS has different limitations than ES.
To read more about the standard mission and its structure – go to the External Study site.
The costs of 1st mission that includes implementation and review service of LunAres Team starts from 1000 euro.
Any other mission starts from 500 euro.
Research costs depend on the specific requirements of each study, including:
- Complexity of the study – the number and complexity of research procedures and their integration into mission operations.
- Required LunAres team support – the level of coordination, operational support, monitoring, and study management required.
- Required mission resources and time – the amount of crew time, infrastructure, equipment, mission schedule allocation, and other resources needed during the mission.
- Amount of LunAres data requested – the scope and type of additional mission, operational, environmental, or other LunAres data required for the study.
The cost estimation can be shared after submitting a proposal with sufficient information.
- Influence of Freeze-Dried Diet on Oral Hygiene Indicators in Strict Isolation Condition of an Analog Space Mission
- Pomeranian Medical University, dr Barbara Gronwald
- During the experiment the oral hygiene and gingival inflammation status measurements were conducted on the group of AAs at the beginning and at the end of each mission.
- Thriving in Isolation: Confinement, Resilience, and Effective Teamwork (CRET)
- UZH Applied Team Research lab, Dr. Monika Maślikowska and Prof. Jan Schmutz
- The study explores psychological resilience and team processes in isolated environments, contributing to future space exploration. We aim to understand how team interactions foster well-being, resilience, and effective teamwork.
The External Studies proposals should be submitted 6 months prior to the mission.
Submit External Study using this link.
Prime Study – THE MISSION ADAPTS TO YOUR RESEARCH
Prime Study (PS Research) is the highest-priority research format at LunAres and allows full integration of a study into the mission architecture in close collaboration with the LunAres team. Only one Prime Study can be conducted per mission, ensuring that the mission structure can be optimized around the research objectives.
In this format, the research team works with LunAres to co-design key elements of the mission, including aspects of the simulation scenario, operational procedures, and research schedule. The mission duration, preflight and postflight activities, and selected operational protocols may be adapted to support the study requirements. Researchers may also participate in defining crew selection criteria to ensure that participant characteristics align with the study design.
Prime Studies allow the development of custom mission simulation protocols, such as defining the simulated scenario (e.g., lunar, Martian, space station, or deep-space mission), communication delay structures, artificial daylight cycles, resource management strategies, or EVA simulation programs. Infrastructure and environmental conditions may also be adapted, for example by installing dedicated experimental equipment, adjusting habitat configurations, or modifying indoor environmental parameters when required for the study.
This research format is particularly suitable for mission-scale research programs, including end-to-end mission simulation studies, human physiology and biomedical research requiring continuous multi-parameter monitoring, integrated human–system interaction studies, long-duration isolation and confinement experiments, or EVA operations research. It also supports large interdisciplinary projects or institutional, agency, or industry-sponsored studies requiring high data completeness and minimized execution risk.
Prime Studies may also provide access to the full LunAres mission data set, when relevant to the research design, and enable collaboration with the LunAres team on grant proposals or mission funding applications related to the study. All mission adaptations are planned jointly with the LunAres team to ensure feasibility and alignment with operational experience.
To read more about the Prime Study scope and submission – go here.
The 1st mission costs start from 20 000 euro for a 14 day long mission.
Research costs depend on the specific requirements of each study, including:
- Complexity of the study – the number and complexity of research procedures and their integration into mission operations.
- Required LunAres team support – the level of coordination, operational support, monitoring, and study management required.
- Required mission resources and time – the amount of crew time, infrastructure, equipment, mission schedule allocation, and other resources needed during the mission.
- Amount of LunAres data requested – the scope and type of additional mission, operational, environmental, or other LunAres data required for the study.
- Required adaptation of the standard mission – How many aspects of mission architecture and infrastructure would need to be adapted to the research. Or is the scope of the mission entirely new and would require planning from scratch.
The cost estimation can be shared after submitting a proposal with sufficient information.
- AstroMentalHealth
- University of Silesia in Katowive, dr Agnieszka Skorupa
- Mental and behavioral health, work performance, and interaction with nature and technological environment during a space mission – psychological monitoring and intervention programs. The study included organisation of special “mirrored” mission simulating specific Axiom 4 mission to ISS.
- Paliga, M., Skorupa, A., Nowacki, A. et al. Personal values as antecedents of technostress and technology-related affective well-being during a simulated space mission. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-66203-
- Skorupa, A., Paliga, M., Niedbała, D. et al. Facial emotional responses to visual representations of deprived experiences in ICE environments: an exploratory analog space mission case study. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-66927-x
The Prime Studies proposals should be submitted a minimum 1.5 years prior to the mission.
Prime Study proposal form will be hared soon.
Not sure where your research fits?
Review our Q&A about research.
Couldn’t find information on our website, not sure which research format is right for your study—or whether your idea is feasible at LunAres? Tell us about your research idea. Our RESEARCH CONSULTATION FORM helps us understand your project and identify a suitable research pathway before you prepare a full proposal.
From submission to execution - how does the process look?
1.1. Before submitting a research proposal, researchers should review the available LunAres research formats and their respective requirements, including Crew Member Study (CS Research), External Study (ES Research), and Prime Study (PS Research). Understanding the differences between these formats helps researchers select the appropriate submission path based on the study objectives, participants, crew time, required resources, level of mission integration, and desired LunAres support.
1.2. If you are unsure which research format is appropriate for your project, you can submit a Research Consultation Form. The LunAres team can review the initial concept and help identify the most appropriate submission path.
2.1. The process begins with submission of a research proposal describing the study objectives, participants, procedures, required time, equipment, infrastructure, LunAres support, and data requirements. Please have in mind that each Research Format (CS, ES and PS) has a different form.
2.2. The information provided should be sufficiently detailed for the LunAres team to understand the operational and resource requirements of the study.
3.1. The LunAres team reviews the proposal to determine:
- Whether the study is compatible with the available mission environment.
- What level of LunAres support is required.
- What crew time and mission resources are needed.
- Whether equipment or infrastructure adaptations are required.
- What LunAres data are requested.
- Whether the selected research format is appropriate for the submitted study.
3.2. Based on these requirements, LunAres prepares an individual cost estimate for the study.
3.3. In case there is not sufficient information – LunAres Team informs the Researcher and points out the unclear or missing information. This might require an online meeting.
4.1. The proposed research format, scope, level of support, and expected costs are discussed with the researcher.
4.2. At this stage, the research requirements and responsibilities of both the researcher and LunAres are clarified. The study scope may be adjusted where necessary based on operational, safety, or resource requirements.
5.1. Once the research scope, requirements, responsibilities, and costs have been agreed upon, the relevant research agreement is completed and signed.
5.2. Depending on a study, there might be required proof of ethical commission approval and agreed deadline for obtaining one. Must be presented prior to mission preparation (at least 1 month in advance).
5.3. Payment method and process is agreed upon.
6.1. Before the study can be implemented, the research procedures must be presented in more detail to the LunAres team for review.
6.2. The review focuses on:
- Operational feasibility – whether the procedures can be integrated into the mission.
- Safety – whether the activities, equipment, and procedures can be conducted safely.
- Mission compatibility – whether the study can be accommodated within the available crew time, infrastructure, and operational constraints.
6.3. This review does not constitute scientific validation of the research.
6.4. Procedures must be submitted within the required time frame. If the information is not provided in sufficient time for the LunAres team to complete the necessary safety and operational review, the study may not be accepted for the requested mission.
7.1. Before the mission, the research team and LunAres coordinate the practical implementation of the study.
7.2. Depending on the research format, this may include:
- Preparing and testing research equipment.
- Finalising experiment session procedures.
- Providing researcher or crew training.
- Preparing required infrastructure.
- Conducting baseline or pre-mission measurements.
- Finalizing communication and support procedures.
8.1. The approved research procedures are conducted during the mission according to the agreed protocol and schedule.
8.2. LunAres provides the level of operational support defined by the research agreement. Researchers are responsible for conducting their research activities and collecting research data according to the approved procedures, unless specific support has been agreed upon.
8.3. Any changes to the approved procedures, equipment, schedule, or research activities must be discussed with the LunAres team before implementation.
9.1. Following the mission, collected research data are organized and processed according to the agreed data arrangements.
9.2. Where applicable, the LunAres team prepares the mission data included in the research agreement. The timing and scope of data delivery depend on the type and amount of data requested.
10.1. The agreed research data are provided to the research team according to the applicable data-access conditions.
10.2. For some research formats, only the standard participant data package is available. Other research formats may provide access to additional mission, operational, environmental, or other datasets as agreed during the research planning process.
11.1. Once the agreed data have been delivered, the LunAres research support process is considered complete.
11.2. Researchers remain responsible for the analysis, interpretation, scientific reporting, publication, and further use of their research data in accordance with the applicable agreement and data-protection requirements.
11.3. Depending on the amount of missions included in the research – steps 7-11 will be repeated prior to each mission.