Living in Space
From the challenges of providing optimal nutrition to managing the risks posed by microgravity, scientists and engineers from NASA work to predict, assess, and solve the problems that humans encounter in space. Through such research, NASA can develop systems that help humans thrive in space.
Learn More About Living in Space
The Body in Space
Spaceflight affects bones, muscles, vision, and more. Learn about the changes humans may undergo during spaceflight, as well as the steps NASA takes to keep astronauts healthy and safe.
Research in Space
NASA seeks to understand how the human body changes while astronauts live and work on the space station. Learn how scientists work to maintain the health and well-being of crew members during and after their missions.
Research on Earth
NASA conducts Earth-bound simulations of life in space. Learn how scientists use such missions to study the way humans adapt to challenges astronauts may encounter on journeys to the Moon and Mars.
Extended Stays in Space
Frank Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Scott Kelly, and others have spent an extended amount of time in space. Learn about the record-holders for the longest continuous spaceflights by U.S. astronauts.
Collaborate With Us
Are you developing innovative ways to keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready ? Partner with NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP)! Check out information on NSPIRES and internships, and explore our how-to guides for working with us.
Food in Space
Astronauts require food that is nutritious, appetizing, long-lasting, easy to make, and more. We strive to continuously improve the quality of space food and to satisfy the dietary needs of crew members on increasingly longer and more distant spaceflight missions.
Steps to Mars
Explore the steps we are taking to prepare humans for long-duration spaceflight. We aim to combine insights from Earth-based simulations of life in space with research conducted on the space station and on future Artemis missions to get NASA ready to send crew to deep space.
Space Gardening
Astronauts will need to grow — rather than solely bring — plants into space on trips to Mars and elsewhere. We test methods for nurturing crops in microgravity so that crew members can enjoy the fruits of gardening on deep space missions.
5 Hazards of Human Spaceflight
Astronauts encounter five hazards as they journey through space. Recognizing these hazards allows NASA to seek ways that overcome the challenges of sending humans to the space station, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Discover the 5 Hazards of Human Spaceflight
What will life be like on missions to deep space?
Take a peek into the lives of crew on a simulated mission to Mars. Confined inside NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), these crew answer questions from students around the world. They share how they maintain their privacy, build strong group dynamics, cope with missing their families, adapt to unexpected circumstances, and more.
Learn about HERA
