Spacesuits that are augmented by embedded nanotechnological elements will enable an intimate and dynamic interface between indwelling astronauts, with advanced nanomedical diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, as well as an almost instantaneous capacity for emergency medical response. When donned by astronauts these (conceptual) AI driven, lightweight, flexible, and highly resilient “Interskin” (IS) class spacesuits (Figure 1) [...]

Loss of Bone Density and Mass under Microgravity Another significant area of concern for human space travel relates to the loss of bone density and mass under microgravity. The bones of humans under the 1g gravity of Earth are in a continual state of flux as bones are constantly being renewed [...]

(Image credit: 123RF) In 2004, NASA released its Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap (BCPR), with an aim to “establish tolerance limits to the space environment and develop countermeasures to overcome these problems.” The BCPR listed close to 50 space-related medical risk factors, which included those associated with the potential for serious cardiac dysrhythmias (from [...]

Ocular Anomalies Microgravity induced ophthalmic anomalies were observed by Mader et al in seven astronauts who were involved in long-duration (six month) space missions to the ISS. An additional 300 astronauts were asked to complete a questionnaire in regard to in-flight vision changes. For the seven astronauts under study, the ophthalmic results indicated disk [...]

Incremental progress has been made on several fronts that may employ nanomedical strategies, to potentially counteract the deleterious effects of galactic cosmic rays and microgravity on human physiology The implementation of these strategies and the enhancement of their preventative, diagnostic, or therapeutic effects for future orbital, planetary, and deep [...]