Abstract

As humankind prepares for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, understanding the physiological effects of space travel on astronauts becomes increasingly critical. One of the most significantly affected systems is the immune system, which plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. This review explores the multifaceted impacts of spaceflight on immunity, including disruptions caused by microgravity, radiation, and confinement. These factors collectively contribute to immune dysregulation, including impaired function of natural killer cells, macrophages, and T-cells, as well as increased inflammatory responses. Evidence also shows a higher rate of latent viral reactivation during missions, such as Epstein-Barr and varicella-zoster viruses. By synthesizing findings from recent experiments and missions, this article highlights the vulnerabilities of the immune system in space and underscores the need for targeted countermeasures to protect astronaut health on future deep space missions.

Keywords

space travel, spaceflight, immunity, microbial environment, spacecraft