Human Health and Performance

Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes and Performance Decrements resulting from Non-Ionizing Radiation during Spaceflight

Sunlight exposure primarily affects the eye and skin and is mitigated by current standards and countermeasures. An increase in the prevalence of high-power ground-based lasers capable of reaching the ISS, and possibly even the Moon, could cause acute laser exposure damaging hemorrhagic retinal lesions resulting in temporary or permanent damage to

Posted March 11, 2025

Human Health and Performance

Human System Risks

Risk of Adverse Health Effects Due to Host-Microorganism Interactions

Exposure to the spaceflight environment evidence indicates alterations in microbial virulence and astronaut immune function.

Posted March 11, 2025

Human Health and Performance

Human System Risks

Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes and Decrements in Performance due to Inflight Medical Conditions

Regardless of mission length or objectives, all human spaceflight requires some degree of in-mission medical support. The transition from a gravitational environment to microgravity, coupled with living in a closed-loop environment, can result in variable physiological effects and health risks.

Posted March 11, 2025

Human Health and Performance

Human System Risks

Risk of Acute and Chronic Carbon Dioxide Exposure

Hostile, enclosed spaceflight environments (including space vehicles and suits) do not have the benefit of natural carbon dioxide (CO2) removal. In these environments, equipment (e.g., the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly, lithium hydroxide, and amine systems) control CO2 levels and mitigate consequences of elevated CO2 exposure.

Posted March 11, 2025

Human Health and Performance

Human System Risks

Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders

Exposure to the isolation and confinement of spaceflight can result in decrements in cognitive and behavioral functioning.

Posted March 11, 2025

Human Health and Performance

Human System Risks

Concern of Venous Thromboembolism

Note: The Concern of Venous Thromboembolism is historical and now a component of CV Risk. Stagnant or reverse flow in the internal jugular vein has been observed in 6 of 11 crew members (55%) tested in-mission on approximately flight day 50; one crewmember was found to have an occlusive internal jugular vein thrombus requiring treatment […]

Posted March 11, 2025

Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO)

Human Health and Performance

Humans in Space

The Human Body in Space

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Independent Assessment

NASA’s Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) assembled a small working group to review hydrogen sulfide (H2S) Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentration (SMAC) values. The group met virtually three times during February and March 2023, and panel members submitted individual opinion statements in April 2023.

Posted January 17, 2025

Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO)

Human Health and Performance

Humans in Space

International Space Station (ISS)

Assessment of PFO as Related to DCS in the Spaceflight Environment and During Ground Testing

In June 2024, the NASA Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) Standards Team hosted an independent assessment working group to review the status and progress of research and clinical activities intended to mitigate the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) related to patent foramen ovale (PFO) during spaceflight and associated ground

Posted December 31, 2024

Human Health and Performance

Human Adaptation to Spaceflight: The Role of Food and Nutrition

The latest book marks our third effort to review available literature regarding the role of nutrition in astronaut health.

Posted October 24, 2024

Human Health and Performance

NASA Life Sciences Portal (NLSP)

NASA Life Sciences Portal (NLSP) The NASA Life Sciences Portal (NLSP) is the gateway to discovering and accessing all archive data from investigations sponsored by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP). The HRP conducts research and develops technologies that allow humans to travel safely and productively in space.

Posted August 30, 2024