Adverse Health Outcomes
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NASA
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 vision. Astronaut Joseph R. Tanner, STS-115 mission specialist, looks…
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NASA
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. For example, anticipated physiological impacts of the microgravity environment include fluid redistribution and subsequent head congestion, particularly during the space…
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