Galaxy Watch 5 monitored the health of astronauts during the Polaris Dawn space mission

Galaxy Watch 5 returned from space aboard SpaceX Dragon 2 after participating in the Polaris Dawn mission.

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The mission, led by Jared Isaacman, is the first of three planned under the Polaris programme, which aims to expand spaceflight capabilities and support important initiatives on Earth. The four-person crew wore the Galaxy Watch 5 to monitor their health in microgravity.

Polaris Dawn launched on 10 September, reaching an orbit 1,400 km from Earth, a record since the Apollo programme. In addition to scientific research, this mission was the first commercial spacewalk using SpaceX's new EVA spacesuits. The crew returned to Earth on 15 September.

One of the main tasks was to study the effects of cosmic radiation, in particular during the passage through the Van Allen radiation belts. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 with its advanced bioactive sensors helped to collect important data on the crew's body composition, such as body fat percentage, muscle mass and water balance.

Interestingly, the watch successfully demonstrated an accuracy rate of up to 97% compared to clinical devices such as DEXA. The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Cancer Centre and NASA.

The Galaxy Watch 5 showed a high correlation of 93% to 97% with body composition values obtained using clinical devices, as confirmed by the researchers. The smartwatch's body fat measurements also had a 95% correlation with the values obtained using a professional DEXA body composition analyser. These results highlight the accuracy and efficiency of the Galaxy Watch 5

Thanks to its compact size and advanced technology, the Galaxy Watch 5 could become an important tool for future space missions, providing astronauts with useful information about their physical condition without the need for bulky equipment.

Source: Samsung