NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

By its very nature, the space environment is inhospitable to humans. In addition to general challenges posed by reduced gravity and the lack of breathable oxygen, many specific environmental features of space present obstacles to NASA’s goal of protecting crewmembers’ health, safety, and productivity.

For decades, research personnel have studied the space environment and have worked to develop tools, equipment, and countermeasures to help humans overcome these environmental challenges. However, as the durations of planned missions increase, scientists have begun to focus more attention on the type of environmental factors that will play a role in extended space travel, exploration, and habitation.

Current areas of focus within the Human Research Program’s study of the space environment include human factors and habitability, lunar dust, microbiology, and radiation.

Over the course of many thousands of years, the human body has developed in response to the rigors of life on Earth. However, space presents many unfamiliar and often unknown risks and challenges. HRP’s study of the space environment focuses on identifying, assessing, and addressing environmental variables that could negatively affect astronaut health and safety, including such factors as microgravity, radiation, and lunar dust.

Environment

Human Factors & Habitability

Lunar Dust

Microbiology

Radiation