Top 10 Health-Related Careers in the Space Program

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
– Identify health-related careers critical to space exploration.
– Understand how health professionals contribute to astronaut safety and mission success.
– Explore educational pathways and skills needed for each career.

Hello Marstronauts and health innovators!

Today, we’re going beyond the clinic, beyond the hospital, and way beyond Earth’s atmosphere. We’re looking at the top 10 health-related careers that make space exploration possible. If you thought only astronauts go to space, think again. Without experts in health, humans wouldn’t survive long up there.

Health is just as important in space as it is on Earth — maybe even more so. Space medicine specialists study how microgravity affects the body. Biomedical engineers create wearable sensors that track astronaut health in real-time. Nutrition scientists design meals that keep astronauts fit and fueled for long missions. Even mental health is critical. Behavioral health specialists prepare astronauts to handle isolation, stress, and extreme environments.

And here’s the twist: these health careers aren’t just for astronauts. The technology and methods developed for space often lead to medical breakthroughs here on Earth. Remote patient monitoring, wearable health devices, and even mental wellness apps are all inspired by space health research.

So, as we go through these careers, I want you to think about which one speaks to you. Do you want to design the food of the future, protect astronauts’ mental health, or create wearable medical devices?

The future of health is everywhere — even on Mars. Let’s explore these life-saving roles and see how you might find your mission in this new frontier.