Human System Risks

Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO)
General
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Humans in Space
The Human Body in Space
In April 2026, NASA’s Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) initiated a working group to review updated VTE case information, additional data gathered revealing altered blood flow status within a cohort of astronauts, and discuss progress of research and clinical activities intended to mitigate the risk of VTE during spaceflight wi
Posted July 18, 2026
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Risk is inherent in human spaceflight. However, specific risks can and should be understood, managed, and mitigated to reduce threats posed to astronauts. Risk management in the context of human spaceflight can be viewed as a trade-based system.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
It is important to protect humans from unintended electrical current flow during spaceflight. The thresholds for contact electrical shock are well established, and standards and requirements exist that minimize the probability of contact electrical shock. Current thresholds were chosen (vs.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
New spacecraft that will transport crews to the Lunar and Martian surfaces and return them to Earth may have diverse landing modalities which will function in different landing environments.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Exposure to altered gravity can cause ocular and brain structural changes to develop during spaceflight; these changes could lead to vision alterations, cognitive effects, or other deleterious health effects. SANS is a syndrome unique to humans that fly in space, and there is no terrestrial disease equivalent.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Safe, breathable air is essential for crew health. Human spaceflight has involved toxicological events ranging in severity from trivial to life-threatening.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Exposure to the altered gravity in the spaceflight environment may cause physiological changes. One of these changes is the inability to completely empty the bladder or urinary retention.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Spaceflight causes measures of maximum aerobic capacity to decline, which can result in impaired mission task performance. Based on ISS data, if crew adhere to existing exercise schedules and have access to adequate exercise countermeasure systems, then on average, they return with minimal losses of aerobic fitness.
Posted March 11, 2025
Human Health and Performance
Human System Risks
Exposure to the microgravity environment causes muscle size, strength, and endurance to decline. Based on ISS data, if crew adhere to the exercise schedule and have access to adequate exercise countermeasure systems then on average, they return with minimal losses of muscle size, strength, and endurance.
Posted March 11, 2025
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