Risk to Crew Health Due to Electrical Shock (Electrical Shock Risk)

It is important to protect humans from unintended electrical current flow during spaceflight. The thresholds for contact electrical shock are well established, and standards and requirements exist that minimize the probability of contact electrical shock. Current thresholds were chosen (vs. voltage thresholds) because body impedance varies depending on conditions such as wet/dry, AC/DC, voltage level, large/small contact area, but current thresholds and physiological effects do not change. By addressing electrical thresholds, engineering teams are able to provide the appropriate hazard controls, usually through additional isolation (beyond the body’s impedance), current limiters, and/or modifying the voltage levels. Risk assessment determined that the probability of an event was extremely low, and the most serious consequence is expected to be involuntary muscle contraction.

Directed Acyclic Graph Files

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+ Electrical Shock Risk DAG and Narrative (PDF)

+ Electrical Shock Risk DAG Code (TXT)

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Risk of Toxic Substance Exposure

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Risk of Urinary Retention

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Risk to Vehicle Crew Egress Capability and Task Performance as Applied to Earth and Extraterrestrial Landings

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Robert E. Lewis

Risk of Urinary Retention

Exposure to the altered gravity in the spaceflight environment may cause physiological changes. One of these changes is the inability to completely empty the bladder or urinary retention. Causes of urinary retention in the early phases of flight include altered baseline physiology seen with exposure to microgravity, the anticholinergic side effects of medications that are taken to combat space motion sickness, and other factors. Urinary retention may impact health on orbit by causing discomfort and increasing the risk of urinary tract infection. Treatment, including urethral catheterization, has been performed on orbit.

Directed Acyclic Graph Files

+ DAG File Information (HSRB Home Page)

+ Urinary Retention Risk DAG and Narrative (PDF)

+ Urinary Retention Risk DAG Code (TXT)

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1 min read

Risk to Crew Health Due to Electrical Shock (Electrical Shock Risk)

Article


51 mins ago

1 min read

Risk to Vehicle Crew Egress Capability and Task Performance as Applied to Earth and Extraterrestrial Landings

Article


51 mins ago

1 min read

Risk of Toxic Substance Exposure

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52 mins ago

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Robert E. Lewis

Risk of Toxic Substance Exposure

Safe, breathable air is essential for crew health. Human spaceflight has involved toxicological events ranging in severity from trivial to life-threatening. Toxic exposure to chemical contaminants can originate from environmental system leaks, payload leaks, pyrolysis of polymeric materials, off-gassing of polymeric materials, use of utility compounds, propellant entry, microbial products, and human metabolism.

To ensure crew safety, these risks are mitigated by preventive measures aimed at reducing or eliminating toxic exposure events as well as by monitoring and intervention post-release to minimize impacts to crew and reduce impacts to crew health and performance as well as long-term health consequences.

Directed Acyclic Graph Files

+ DAG File Information (HSRB Home Page)

+ Toxic Exposure Risk DAG and Narrative (PDF)

+ Toxic Exposure Risk DAG Code (TXT)

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1 min read

Risk of Urinary Retention

Article


51 mins ago

1 min read

Risk to Crew Health Due to Electrical Shock (Electrical Shock Risk)

Article


51 mins ago

1 min read

Risk to Vehicle Crew Egress Capability and Task Performance as Applied to Earth and Extraterrestrial Landings

Article


51 mins ago

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Robert E. Lewis

Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome

Exposure to altered gravity can cause ocular and brain structural changes to develop during spaceflight; these changes could lead to vision alterations, cognitive effects, or other deleterious health effects. SANS is a syndrome unique to humans that fly in space, and there is no terrestrial disease equivalent. Brain structural changes appear small but seem to indicate that over half of crewmembers experience one or more symptoms of SANS. Determining intracranial pressure during spaceflight could improve our understanding of SANS mechanisms and improve our ability to target countermeasures for determining risk for future missions.

Directed Acyclic Graph Files

+ DAG File Information (HSRB Home Page)

+ SANS Risk DAG and Narrative (PDF)

+ SANS Risk DAG Code (TXT)

Human Research Roadmap

+ Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome

+ 2022 April Evidence Report (PDF)

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Risk of Toxic Substance Exposure

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1 min read

Risk of Urinary Retention

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1 min read

Risk to Crew Health Due to Electrical Shock (Electrical Shock Risk)

Article


51 mins ago

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Robert E. Lewis

Risk of Renal Stone Formation

Exposure to microgravity induces bone atrophy/bone loss which increases circulating calcium, impacting the renal stone risk. Risk mitigation strategies including exercise and hydration are well-defined although the ability to treat a renal stone during exploration missions is not yet available.

Directed Acyclic Graph Files

+ DAG File Information (HSRB Home Page)

+ Risk of Renal Stone Formation DAG and Narrative (PDF)

+ Risk of Renal Stone Formation DAG Code (TXT)

Human Research Roadmap

+ Risk of Renal Stone Formation Human Research Roadmap

+ 2017 May Evidence Report

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1 min read

Risk of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome

Article


52 mins ago

1 min read

Risk of Toxic Substance Exposure

Article


52 mins ago

1 min read

Risk of Urinary Retention

Article


51 mins ago

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Robert E. Lewis