Space nursing is an emerging specialty focused on caring for astronauts and space travelers during space missions. As space travel and exploration expand, it is expected that there will be a growing need for nurses with specialized knowledge and skills to support human health and performance in space environments.
Some key aspects of space nursing include:
Astronaut Health Monitoring and Care
- Conducting medical examinations to determine fitness for space travel
- Providing in-flight care during space missions
- Monitoring astronaut health data received from space
- Managing medical issues that arise due to microgravity, radiation exposure, isolation, and other space travel hazards
Space Medicine Research
- Studying the impacts of space travel on the human body to better understand associated health risks
- Developing evidence-based countermeasures to mitigate negative health effects
- Translating space medicine research to improve patient care on Earth
Mission Support
- Assisting with mission planning, especially medical components
- Training astronauts and mission control personnel on in-flight medical procedures and equipment use
- Developing emergency response protocols for contingencies during spaceflight
Space Habitat Design
- Advising engineers on optimal design of spacecraft habitats and systems to support crew health
- Ensuring medical equipment and supplies are effectively stored and mobilized
Education and Training
Formal education programs specializing in space nursing have not yet been established. Currently, nurses enter this field through a variety of paths after obtaining RN licensure and critical care experience. Additional training and certification related to aerospace medicine is beneficial.
Some common educational routes include:
- Master’s or doctoral nursing degrees with a research focus on space medicine
- Certification in aerospace physiology, aerospace medicine, or flight nursing
- Hands-on training at analog sites simulating space-like conditions on Earth
- Observation of space agency medical operations during astronaut launches and landings
As space nursing continues to evolve, more structured education programs will likely emerge.
Career Opportunities
While still a very niche occupation, there are some career opportunities emerging in space nursing, including:
Government Agencies
- NASA and other national space agencies employ nurses in their space medicine divisions. Nurses support astronaut crew health during training and actual spaceflights.
Commercial Space Industry
- As public space travel becomes more common, nurses will be needed to assess passenger health pre-flight and monitor inflight medical needs.
Academic Research
- Universities with departments focused on aerospace or space medicine utilize nurses to conduct research on the health effects of space travel.
Military Aviation and Aerospace Medicine
- Flight nurses and aeromedical evacuation nurses care for patients being transported in aircraft and have transferable skills for space medicine.
Summary
Space nursing sits poised on the cusp of major growth as space exploration accelerates. Nurses with the right combination of critical care competency, research acumen, technological savvy and adventurous spirit can make substantial contributions to advancing space medicine and supporting future missions beyond Earth. This emerging specialty represents an exciting new frontier in nursing practice.
