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Abstract The first human missions to Mars are scheduled for the 2030s. Besides the already known physical and psychological challenges related to spaceflights, a mission to Mars will pose even more health threats to astronauts and increase the need for maintaining a rigorous lifestyle for years. Mission control has always played the key role in providing care for the flight crew with advanced medical technologies. However, the need for medical assistance will increase due to the length of the mission, the time delay in communication, and the limited medical resources on board. Similar to how “digital health” is shaping healthcare with disruptive technologies, a new approach could be required in diagnosing, treating, and monitoring crew members' health on board. Healthcare is transitioning from a hierarchy to a collaborative partnership between patients and caregivers. Just as empowered patients are getting involved in their care, astronauts also need to gain experience in using new technologies to keep a rigorously healthy lifestyle and participate in medical decision-making. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive and practical overview of how digital health technologies could help reduce the health risks and potential medical consequences related to human spaceflights to Mars by making astronauts the point-of-care.
Bertalan Meskó (Mon,) studied this question.
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