Review of NASA’s Evidence
Reports on Human Health Risks
2015 LETTER REPORT
Committee to Review NASA’s Evidence Reports
on Human Health Risks
Board on Health Sciences Policy
Carol E. H. Scott-Conner, Daniel R. Masys, and
Catharyn T. Liverman, Editors
Institute of Medicine
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
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International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-38061-4
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-38061-8
Digital Object Identifier: 10.17226/21844
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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Review of NASA’s evidence reports on human health risks: 2015 letter report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/21844.
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COMMITTEE TO REVIEW NASA’S EVIDENCE REPORTS
ON HUMAN HEALTH RISKS
CAROL E. H. SCOTT-CONNER (Chair), University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
DANIEL R. MASYS (Vice Chair), University of Washington, Seattle
SUSAN A. BLOOMFIELD, Texas A&M University, College Station
C. PATRICK DUNNE, Dunne Solutions, Framingham, MA
BRAD HOLSCHUH, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
MICHAEL J. JOYNER, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
JAMES A. PAWELCZYK, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
K. P. SANDEEP, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
ROBERT L. SATCHER, JR., University of Texas, Houston
JACK STUSTER, Anacapa Sciences, Santa Barbara, CA
SCOTT TRAPPE, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
PETER D. WAGNER, University of California, San Diego
GAYLE E. WOLOSCHAK, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
LAURENCE R. YOUNG, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
IOM Staff
CATHARYN T. LIVERMAN, Study Director
CLAIRE F. GIAMMARIA, Research Associate
JUDITH L. ESTEP, Program Associate
SOPHIE YANG, Research Assistant
ANDREW M. POPE, Director, Board on Health Sciences Policy
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Reviewers
This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
ELDON W. ASKEW, University of Utah
DENNIS R. HELDMAN, The Ohio State University
SUSAN R. HOPKINS, University of California, San Diego
DAVID KIRSCH, Duke University Medical Center
JOANNE LUPTON, Texas A&M University
NEAL W. POLLOCK, Duke University Medical Center
FRANK A. SLOAN, Duke University
JOHN B. WEST, University of California, San Diego
Although reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they did not see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by GLORIA LEON, University of Minnesota, who served as the coordinator. She was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.
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Contents
COMMITTEE’S TASK AND OVERARCHING ISSUES
THE NASA HUMAN RESEARCH ROADMAP
RISK OF IMPAIRED PERFORMANCE DUE TO REDUCED MUSCLE MASS, STRENGTH, AND ENDURANCE
RISK OF REDUCED PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES DUE TO REDUCED AEROBIC CAPACITY
RISK OF ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE DURING RE-EXPOSURE TO GRAVITY
RISK OF INJURY AND COMPROMISED PERFORMANCE DUE TO EVA OPERATIONS
RISK OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS
RISK OF PERFORMANCE DECREMENT AND CREW ILLNESS DUE TO AN INADEQUATE FOOD SYSTEM