In-Flight Food Systems' Effect on Astronaut Health

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) /Human Research Program seeks to develop a proof-of-concept model and simulation to aid in understanding and quantifying the incidence rate and severity of astronaut in-flight health conditions resulting from changes to the in-flight food system characteristics. Such models are needed to allow for better predictions of interventions intended to address a negative physiological response to space flight that may positively or negatively influence other responses. An adequate food system is a necessity for human survival in space. It is also a means of intervention as it influences how an astronaut may respond to space flight stressors, including health and performance capabilities associated with muscle and skeletal fitness or the onset of medical conditions. As a proof-of-concept, NASA seeks a means to establish the influence changes in food system characteristics will have on required medical resources by modeling how those capabilities influence the occurrence of a limited number of the medical conditions.
Successful space travel depends on inclusion of an adequate food system. NASA seeks to address how the choice of the food system influences the incidence rate of medical conditions thought to be of significant concern to space travel. To do this NASA seeks a means of assessing how a food system, characterized by its ability to provide nutrients (micronutrient etc.), calories, and hydration, may alter the base incidence rate of the selected medical conditions. The overall goal of the project is the development of model and simulation tools to establish how health and performance risk is influenced by the interaction of space flight stressors and implemented crew health and performance system interventions that would be difficult to address otherwise due to lack of direct evidence.

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