Hazards During Spaceflight Can Affect Human Health

Abstract

Space missions present several unique challenges to human health and performance, including space radiation, unique gravity fields, living with just a small group of companions in a small space for a long time, limited resources like food and water, and being far away from Earth. Since our last visit to the Moon, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have identified over 20 categories of human health risks that are related to these spaceflight hazards. Identifying the human health risks posed by space travel allows new science experiments to be designed and new knowledge to be gained, so we can ensure the health and safety of astronauts on their journeys of space exploration. In this article, we will set off on our own exploration mission to discover and learn about some of the main hazards and related health risks that space travelers will encounter.