A 2016 study into cardiovascular disease (CVD) amongst members of the NASA Apollo missions found that the CVD mortality rate in Apollo lunar astronauts was 4–5 times higher than in non-flight and Low Earth Orbit astronauts.

“[…] although deep space radiation seems a likely cause underlying the higher proportional mortality rate due to CVD in Apollo astronauts, it remains unknown what specific factor(s) in the space environment is responsible.” source: Apollo Lunar Astronauts Show Higher Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 29901 (2016)

Share this page