NASA Uses USP-Born Actigraph to Monitor Artemis II Crew

Overview

• NASA adopted a University of São Paulo actigraph for Artemis II to log astronauts’ sleep, activity, and ambient light during the mission.
• The watch-like unit measures movement, light intensity, and the spectral mix of light, including blue wavelengths.
• Blue light is a strong cue for the sleep–wake cycle, so tracking exposure helps manage alertness, mood, and safety in space.
• The tool was created at USP’s School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities under professor Mario Pedrazzoli with early support from FAPESP’s PIPE program.
• Condor Instruments commercialized the device for rugged use, and the same scientific-grade system is used in chronobiology, neuroscience, and public-health research on Earth.