Two Indian-American aerospace researchers are set to take part in an unprecedented space research effort in 2027, with a mission focused on understanding how menstruation and menstrual products behave in microgravity. The project aims to address a long-standing gap in human spaceflight research and could provide valuable information for future missions.
Manju Bangalore, 28, and Priya Abiram, 22, are expected to lead Operation Period-01, a suborbital research flight being developed by the nonprofit Operation Period through its Redshift Lab. The mission is planned to fly with Virgin Galactic and could make the researchers some of the youngest South Asian women to reach space.
Unlike an orbital mission, a suborbital flight briefly enters space without completing an orbit around Earth. During OP-01, researchers intend to conduct controlled experiments using a fluid designed to replicate key characteristics of menstrual blood. They will examine how the fluid behaves in microgravity and how different menstrual products respond under those conditions.
The initiative addresses an unusual scientific blind spot. Although more than 100 women have traveled to space, researchers have had limited direct measurements of menstruation in microgravity. Much of the existing understanding has instead come from astronaut experiences and observational accounts rather than controlled experiments.
The team hopes the research will contribute to better planning for future long-duration missions. As human exploration expands toward destinations such as the Moon and Mars, understanding reproductive health and menstrual management could become increasingly important. The findings may also contribute to research on Earth, including the development and evaluation of menstrual products.
Bangalore brings extensive experience to the project. Raised in Oregon by Indian immigrant parents, she has academic backgrounds in physics, mathematics and astronautical engineering. Her professional experience includes work at NASA’s Marshall and Johnson Space Centers involving propulsion and spacecraft systems. She has also participated in microgravity research during parabolic flights.
Bangalore established Operation Period in 2015 to address menstrual inequity before expanding its work into scientific research. Abiram, an aerospace engineer, pilot and astronaut-in-training, serves as the Redshift Lab’s research director. Her career has included work related to life-support and spacecraft systems at NASA and several private aerospace companies.
The mission also highlights how women’s health has historically received limited attention in space exploration. Researchers involved with OP-01 argue that obtaining reliable data could give astronauts more informed options while helping mission planners prepare appropriate medical supplies and resources.
The flight is currently targeted for 2027, though an exact launch date has not been announced. Further information about the research payload, partners and schedule is expected to be released as preparations continue.
