QUESTION:
How is NASA monitoring the health of the Artemis II astronauts?

ANSWER FROM HORTYSPRINGER ATTORNEY
DAN MULHOLLAND:

According to Dr. A.I. Grok, NASA monitors the health of the Artemis II astronauts through a combination of dedicated flight surgeons, wearable and onboard sensors, scheduled self-performed tests, private medical conferences, and specialized experiments. Among other things, astronauts use Orion’s medical kit and perform checks. Key elements include:

• Wearable sensors and actigraphy devices (part of the ARCHER experiment – Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness): These track movement, sleep patterns, activity, light-dark cycles, and team dynamics/behavioral data in real time or near-real time. They help assess performance, fatigue, and cognitive health.
• Radiation monitoring: Crew members carry personal dosimeters (e.g., Crew Active Dosimeters in pockets) for real-time individual exposure tracking. Multiple active sensors inside Orion measure cabin radiation levels and can trigger warnings for solar particle events, allowing the crew to use shielding or shelter if needed. Cumulative doses on this short mission are expected to be low (roughly equivalent to a couple of CT scans).
• Biological samples: Dry saliva swabs (easy to collect and store) measure stress hormones (e.g., cortisol), immune biomarkers, and other indicators at multiple points pre-, in-, and post-flight. Blood, urine, and other samples may also be collected for nutrition, cardiovascular, and immune studies.
• Vital signs and physiological checks: Onboard equipment for blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, ultrasound (e.g., artery scans), cognition tests, and vision assessments. The crew has practiced using the medical kit (thermometer, stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, etc.) and even demonstrated CPR in zero-g.

It is not clear if this is covered by the recent extension of the telemedicine waivers, but HIPAA precludes closure of their specific health information.  As a government agency that is not a covered entity, NASA is exempt from the HIPAA privacy rule, but it voluntarily complies with HIPAA with respect to astronauts’ protected heath information.

If you have a quick question about this, e-mail Dan Mulholland at info@hortyspringer.com.