Utilizing the Life Span Study data in NASA astronaut cancer risk assessment

During space missions, astronauts are continuously exposed to extraterrestrial radiation that differs in quality and dose rate compared with terrestrial radiation. As such, astronauts are considered special radiation workers and are subject to a unique set of standards in place of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards that cover terrestrial radiation workers. To accurately estimate and communicate the risk of cancer from space radiation to astronauts and mission managers to facilitate decision-making, the NASA Space Cancer Risk (NSCR) model was developed and has been used operationally at NASA since 2013. The Life Span Study (LSS) of the atomic bomb survivor cohort serves as a key foundational dataset for NSCR that enables quantification of health risks from space radiation. Here, we provide a description of how LSS data and models are currently used within the NSCR model and discuss future perspectives for utilizing this robust dataset to improve risk estimation.