NASA Prepares for Death in Space

With the expansion of space missions beyond the ground orbit and distant destinations like the moon and Mars, NASA is facing a new delicate challenge: space death management.

Because immediate return to Earth is not possible on these missions, the agency is developing new protocols for the preservation and treatment of astronaut troops that could change lives during long-term flights. The goal is to preserve human dignity, prevent biological pollution, and psychological support of the crew.

Currently, there are protocols at the International Space Station, including body conservation in a container specialising with cooling and absorption systems, located in a non-pressed module. The body returns to Earth at the best time for further treatment under the rules.

Dr. Peter Cummings, American pathologist and neuropatologist, points out that there has been no natural death cases in space to date. With the average age of astronauts and the extension of missions, however, health risks have become real.

NASA and its partners are working intensively to prepare such scenarios, viewing them as necessary parts of deep spatial and human responsibility exploration against those who challenge the boundaries of human knowledge./Periscopi/