Seminar: Medical Risk Assessment for Human Spaceflight - Oct. 31
Arian Anderson
Emergency Medicine Physician and Assistant Professor, CU Anschutz
Friday, Oct. 31 | 10:40 A.M. | AERO 111
Abstract: The renewed global interest in lunar exploration, rapid expansion of the commercial space sector, and national investments in crewed missions have created one of the most active eras in human spaceflight history. This new paradigm, however, challenges long-standing approaches to astronaut health and medical support that were designed for small, elite crews in low Earth orbit. Future explorers will include commercial astronauts with more diverse medical profiles and NASA crews operating autonomously on long-duration missions with limited resupply, communication, and evacuation capabilities.
To address these challenges, NASA Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) element has developed probabilistic risk assessment models that quantify medical risk based on crew characteristics and mission profiles. These models enable mission designers to optimize medical systems, forecast resource needs, and guide targeted technology development.
At the University of Colorado, interdisciplinary teams in medicine and aerospace engineering are applying similar frameworks to bridge the gap between clinical care and systems design. Through initiatives such as AI-guided ultrasound human factors testing and the dual-degree MD/MS program in Medicine and Aerospace Engineering, CU is preparing the next generation of researchers and engineers to advance human health and performance in spaceflight and other extreme environments.
Bio: Dr. Arian Anderson is an Emergency Medicine physician and Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he directs the Medicine and Aerospace Engineering Dual-Degree Program and the CU Space Health Program. His work bridges clinical medicine and engineering to advance human health and performance in spaceflight and other austere and remote environments. Dr. Anderson previously worked at NASA Exploration Medical Capability element, developing a quantitative approach to assessing mission medical risk and designing systems to enable medical care on future Moon and Mars missions. At CU, he leads interdisciplinary education and research spanning space medicine, bioastronautics, and remote operations.