Human Health and Performance
The Human Health and Performance (HH&P) Directorate is the primary organization focused on humans living, working and thriving in space, on the moon and on to Mars. Our mission is to lead the global spaceflight community in protecting astronaut health and ensuring human mission performance.
Our Organization
All HH&P functions are ultimately aimed at achieving our mission, “HH&P capabilities enable optimization of human health and performance throughout all phases of spaceflight.” Our activities enable mission success, optimizing human health and productivity in space before, during, and after the actual space flight experience of our flight crews, and include support for ground-based functions.
Read MoreMission and Goals
Exploring Space | Enhancing Life
The Human Health and Performance Directorate (HH&P) is the primary organization focused on enhancing crew health and performance and mitigating the risks associated with human spaceflight. With three offices, three divisions and over 900 employees, all HH&P functions are ultimately aimed at achieving our mission: optimizing human health and performance throughout all phases of spaceflight
Read MoreLeadership Team
Michelle A. Frieling currently serves as the Director of the Human Health and Performance Directorate. Learn about the HH&P leadership team members.
Read MoreEducation and Outreach
The Human Health and Performance Directorate and the Human Research Program offer a wide variety of educational opportunities ranging from short internships to in-depth research fellowships and NASA grants.
Read MoreHighlighted News
Aerospace Medicine Clerkship
The four-week Aerospace Medicine Clerkship involves formal lectures on space medicine topics and issues, familiarization with the medical aspects of International Space Station operations, design, and function as well as Exploration Medical Capability for deep space exploration.
The application window for the October 2024 session is open. The next available session will convene October 7-November 1, 2024. Applications for the October 2024 session will close on June 1, 2024 at 1159 CST.
Learn More about Aerospace Medicine ClerkshipExplore HH&P
Human Health Capabilities
Space Environment Capabilities
Human Performance and Human Systems Engineering Capabilities
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Contact HH&P
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