Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science The astronaut health experiments of Artemis II
Mar 25, 2026
Steve Platts, NASA Human Research Program chief scientist who leads studies on astronaut physiology and behavior, and Casey Dreier, space policy analyst who explains NASA strategy shifts. They discuss Artemis II’s wearable ARCHER sensors, saliva stress sampling, dosimeters, radiation and multi-hazard risks, team dynamics in confinement, medical/remote diagnostics, and policy moves shifting from Gateway to a lunar surface focus.
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Compression Suit Solved Early Postflight Fainting
- Steve Platts began his NASA career studying orthostatic intolerance and developed a compressive suit to prevent blood pressure collapse on return.
- Early research reduced postflight fainting from nearly 80% on early stations to far lower rates using compression countermeasures.
Galactic Cosmic Rays Drive Deep Space Radiation Risk
- Galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) is the dominant, hardest-to-shield hazard outside Earth's magnetosphere.
- Shielding can create secondary radiation, so modeling GCR exposure and biological effects is central to Artemis planning.
Use Analogs And Countermeasures To Manage Isolation
- Use analogs and behavioral countermeasures to prepare crews for isolation and confinement.
- Studies include Antarctic overwinter, Earth analog habitats, more movies, family interaction, and AI conversational bots as mitigation tools.