Medical management of U.S. astronauts

The medical management of U.S. astronauts involves a comprehensive health care program and a variety of NASA and support organizations. The scope of this program includes aspects of medical monitoring and certification, health maintenance and counter-measures programs, medical intervention, psychosocial support, and environmental health monitoring. Each of these areas have activities in all mission phases preflight, inflight, and postflight. The wide range of potential health hazards from space flight mandates an aggressive health care program to maintain crew health and performance, and to prevent unwanted mission and long-term health consequences.