Request for Information: Help Shape Human Health Research for a Future Moon Base - NASA

Background: After more than 50 years, the Artemis II mission has re-ignited the global interest in human spaceflight and successfully demonstrated that the Moon is still well within our reach. For the first time since the Apollo Program, the NASA Artemis Program will return astronauts to the surface of the Moon – this time to stay. Artemis IV will be the first missions to include a short surface stay on the Moon and subsequent missions will increasingly focus on a sustained human presence on the Moon. It remains unclear what long term physiological and psychological adaptations may occur in the lunar gravity environment and how these changes could influence both operational performance on the Moon and potential long-term health implications after returning to Earth. The development of humanity’s first Moon Base and related infrastructures is a key objective within NASA’s framework. This objective will not only provide new opportunities to investigate and learn how living and working on the Moon affects human physiology, psychology, and risks to astronaut health but also will help prepare us for permanent lunar presence and future Mars exploration missions. Information Requested:The NASA Human Research Program (HRP) is requesting information on operationally relevant research ideas, new questions that may arise, and challenges to address, that relate to human health and performance and mitigating astronaut risks during a sustained human presence on the Moon.
Appropriate responses to this RFI should address: 1 What human health questions should be addressed using data from astronauts working and living on the Moon surface for short durations (approximately 1 week to 1 month)? 2 What human health and performance information should be collected during the early Moon Base development missions? Would acquiring the information require special resources, dedicated astronaut time, or cause interruption of nominal operations? If yes, how would these data contribute to understanding human health risks and/or developing risk mitigation strategies? 3 What resources (e.g. technology, equipment, capabilities) would be desirable to have on a Moon Base to enhance human research and support astronaut risk characterization and mitigation? 4 What human health questions and risk mitigations could be addressed with data from uncrewed lunar surface missions? Which payload(s) to collect these data might be available to fly in the near future? The Human Research Program: The Human Research Program (HRP) conducts research and develops evidence‑based strategies to mitigate the highest‑priority risks to astronaut health and performance during human exploration missions. HRP’s goal is to deliver the countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools needed to enable safe, reliable, and productive human spaceflight while preserving astronaut health throughout their careers and beyond. These objectives encompass both mission success and long‑term human health and performance