Mars Astronauts Face Expiring Medication Issue

Traveling to Mars isn’t just about rockets and spacesuits; even medications could pose a significant challenge for astronauts on long missions. A recent study highlights that many drugs intended for a Mars mission may expire before the astronauts return to Earth, a critical issue given NASA’s estimate that a Mars mission would last about three years.

Dr. Dan Buckland from Duke University School of Medicine led the research, revealing that many medications used in space have a shelf life of three years or less. On Earth, expired medications are usually less effective, but the extent of this reduced efficacy is unpredictable. Dr. Buckland explains, “The risk is that an illness later in a Mars mission would end up with greater severity than had it occurred earlier in the mission before the medication has expired.”

Using a Freedom of Information Act (FoI) request, Buckland and his team gathered a list of medications onboard the International Space Station (ISS). They believe these medications would likely be part of a medical kit for a Mars mission. The study, published in the journal npj Microgravity, found shelf-life data for 91 of the 106 medications on the ISS list. More than half of these medications would expire within 36 months, including some painkillers. Furthermore, 14 medications would expire within 24 months, such as one advanced life support medication, one for anaphylaxis, two antibiotics, and one antipsychotic. When considering each medication’s minimum shelf life, 89 out of the 106 medications would expire by 36 months.

These expiry dates apply to drugs in their original packaging, meaning they may have an even shorter shelf life if repackaged, as often happens on the ISS. Previous studies show astronauts on the ISS report daily use of onboard medications, underscoring their importance. Unlike the ISS, which can be regularly resupplied, a Mars mission won’t have this luxury, and emergency evacuation may not be possible, making the expiration of medications a significant concern.

Dr. Buckland hopes this research will guide the selection in choosing medicines that last longer for space missions.Another option might be to pack more medicine to make up for it getting weaker over time.This study highlights that even small details like expiring medicine can be substantial challenges for space exploration. As we plan for Mars, we must solve problems we might not have anticipated.

Re-reported from the article published originally in The Guardian.