Living in Space

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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.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 62 Flight Engineer Jessica Meir, wearing the "Penguin (пингвин)" suit, poses for a portrait in the U.S. Laboratory.

Learn More About Living in Space

Flight Engineer Drew Morgan strikes a pose (flexing his muscles) in the Quest Airlock (A/L) during preparations for Extravehicular Activity 61 (EVA 61)

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.

image of astronauts Alexander Gerst and Serena Auñón-Chancellor collecting blood samples from themselves inside ISS

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.

Researchers are pictured outside the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), located at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The closed habitat is a unique 650-square-feet space that is split among two floors and a loft, designed to serve as an Earth-bound mission for isolation, confinement, and remote conditions in exploration scenarios.

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.

(From left) Frank Rubio, Mark Vande Hei, Scott Kelly, Christina Koch, and Peggy Whitson are pictured in a composite image. All five NASA astronauts have spent an extended amount of time in space.

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.

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.

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
The crew of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 6 Mission 4 poses for a photo together inside the habitat.
The crew of NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 6 Mission 4 poses for a photo together inside the habitat.
Credit: NASA/Bill Stafford