McCormac_2005abstr

Copyright Ó 2005 by Percival D.McCormack.Published by the Mars Society with permission

 

CHRONIC HEALTH HAZARDS IN HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION

 

Percival D. McCormack, M.D.,Ph.D.,Sc.D.

Professor Of Bioengineering And Biophysics

University Of Illinois At Chicago

e-mail: pmccorm@uic.edu

 

ABSTRACT

 

There are many biomedical issues that must be resolve to ensure the survival and safety of humans living and traveling in space. The space environment is hostile to humans.

 

There are short term, or acute, health issues for Shuttle-type and medium duration (ISS) missions. These include cardiovascular deconditioning; neurophysiology changes(for example; vestibular and especially SMS); behavioural psychology; hematology; muscular deconditioning etc.). This review addresses the long term stays and long duration flights, such as an expedition to Mars and a Mars outpost, and the development of a lunar base. Three specific long term health hazards will be addressed; they are the potential ‘show-stoppers’.

• Bone demineralization in micro- and in fractional- gravity.
• Radiation exposure.
• Immune system changes.