ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst takes a selfie during an EVA outside the International Space Station in 2014. Within Earth’s magnetic shield, astronauts are relatively protected from space radiation. But on missions to other worlds, more protective measures will need to be taken.
NASA/SPL/Barcroft Media
Tomorrow, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will blast off from Kennedy Space Center carrying a Crew Dragon capsule, which will then ferry four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Dubbed Crew-1, this mission will be the first official flight of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, finally replacing the retired Space Shuttle Program.
Historic in its own right, the Crew-1 mission will also demonstrate the rapid progress private spaceflight companies, especially SpaceX, have made in recent years. And though still far off on the horizon, regular human spaceflights beyond low-Earth orbit look inevitable over the coming decades.
To prepare for that eventuality, scientists, engineers, and medical professionals are tirelessly working to identify and mitigate the new challenges interplanetary travel poses to human health and well-being.
