HRP @ Johnson Space Center
The Human Research Program is managed from the Johnson
Space Center with expertise and facilities located at other
NASA centers. The Human Research Program develops both technologies
and procedures to allow humans to travel safely, productively,
and without long-lasting effects from the space environment.
Some changes to humans are not a problem during space travel,
but could be upon return to Earth, to the 1/6 gravity of
the Moon, or the 1/3 gravity of Mars. Other changes are
issues for humans while they are in the space environment.
When travelers return to Earth, they have both experts and
facilities that can care for them and return them to the
state of health they enjoyed before space flight. However,
on the Moon or on Mars, this will not be an option; there
will be no physician waiting their arrival and there are
no gyms or other facilities.
Similarly, we on Earth have access to patient care and
hospitals, but in route to the Moon or Mars, this will not
be available. The Human Research Program at JSC manages
the research and technology development to provide medical
care in transit and after landing on the Moon or another
planet. Also while in transit or on the surface of another
heavenly body, space radiation becomes an issue both to
the traveler and for equipment that must operate in that
environment. The space radiation element is developing technologies
and other strategies to minimize the risk to crew health.
In addition, they are looking at life time exposure limits
to space radiation to keep our crews healthy when they return
to Earth.
NASA uses the term countermeasures to describe the procedures,
strategies, medications, exercise, etc. that help to keep
our astronauts healthy and productive while they are traveling
in space and after they return to Earth. This group uses
a number of venues to research and test these measures.
These venues include analog environments, locations or situations
that mimic the space environment or some aspect of it. For
example, the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations
(NEEMO) laboratory provides conditions that simulate weightlessness
(buoyancy of water), that simulate the surface of the Moon
(rough sea terrain), that simulate the confined conditions
in a space craft (cannot open the door and go for a walk,
crowded, recycled air), and that simulate the conditions
for performing extravehicular activities (EVA). Other countermeasures
involve exercise to keep bones healthy and muscles functioning.
Some look at nutrition and what is required to keep astronauts
healthy.
The HRP at Johnson Space Center looks at risks from the
environment and in the living and working spaces. For example,
Engineers design work areas to accommodate the reach and
posture of an astronaut. The lighting experts develop lighting
schemes that help orient the astronaut to up/down. For additional
information please read the Space
Human Factors and Habitability section of the web site.
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