Singaporean engineer's work went to the moon and back on Artemis II mission

Singaporean Lalita Devi Arjun Singh played a key role in developing a health monitoring kit used by astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission, which recently completed its journey around the moon. This mission marked the first human travel to the moon's vicinity in over 50 years.

As project manager at the science and technology company Leidos, Singh co-led a five-member team that created a dry saliva collection kit. This kit allowed scientists to analyze how astronauts' bodies responded to microgravity and confined spaces during the 10-day mission. The data gathered helps in developing countermeasures to protect astronaut health for future long-duration missions to the moon and Mars.

In addition to the health monitoring kit, Singh also contributed to developing specialized nutrition and hydration pouches in 2024. These pouches are designed for contingency situations, such as sudden pressure drops within the spacecraft caused by leaks or micro-meteoroid strikes. They contain chocolate and vanilla powder and can be mixed with water to provide essential sustenance when astronauts are unable to eat normally.

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This helps scientists understand how the crew’s bodies react differently during space travel when experiencing microgravity in a confined space, and to develop countermeasures to protect astronauts’ health and prevent illness for future long missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.