Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti gives the Vulcan salute aboard the International Space Station.
(Image credit: NASA/ESA)

Space life scientists are pushing for the development of an international database on long-term health effects of spaceflight. They feel it is essential for protecting the health and performance of current and future crew members of all nationalities, as well as defining the long-term health consequences for retired crew members across the globe.

That said there are thorny legal and privacy challenges ahead.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch pauses as she helps replace equipment on the International Space Station. She and her fellow astronauts faced a suite of health effects while in space. (Image credit: NASA)
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Given that there are now roughly 120 international retired space crew members still alive, collecting medical/health data on these crew members has the potential to expand the total “n” for health outcomes in space explorers by 40 percent.

Understanding the long-term human health impact of space exploration missions is exceptionally challenging.

Why so? 

For more information, go to my new Space.com story – “Can we live long and prosper in space? The astronaut health dilemma – Relatively few humans have ever been exposed to the space environment” – at:

https://www.space.com/live-long-prosper-long-term-spaceflight-health-risks