Astronautical hygiene

Astronautical hygiene is the application of science and technology to the recognition and evaluation of hazards, and the prevention or control of risks to health, while working in low-gravity environments.

Space medicine has developed as a science since 1948 when Dr. Hubertus Strughold predicted many of the medical problems of working in low gravity for example, neurovestibular disturbances, red blood cell changes. The discipline of astronautical hygiene includes such topics as the use and maintenance of life support systems, the risks of extravehicular activity, the risks of exposure to chemicals or radiation, the characterisation of hazards, human factor issues and the development of risk management strategies. Astronautical hygiene works side by side with space medicine to ensure that astronauts will be healthy and safe when working in space. This is especially critical with the planned manned expeditions to the Moon and Mars.

When astronauts return to the Moon and travel farther to Mars, or even other planets, they will be exposed to a number of hazards e.g. radiation, microbes in the spacecraft, planetary surface toxic dust. An "astronautical hygienist" or an astronaut with knowledge of the discipline would provide invaluable data during the voyage on for example, how to assess the risks to health from exposure to chemicals within the spacecraft and the appropriate measures to mitigate exposure. Once on the surface of the Moon or planet the astronautical hygienist would provide information on the nature of the dust, measure the potential levels of exposure while exploring the surface terrain, assess the likely risks to health and thereby determine how to prevent or control exposure. Applying astronautical hygiene knowledge and expertise from the gathered intelligence during the journey would ensure that the health of the astronauts was protected at all time.

The main roles of the astronautical hygienist are:

As manned spaceflight programmes develop over the years and include missions to the Moon, Mars and asteroids, then the expertise and knowledge of the astronautical hygienist will be crucial.

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