Unseen challenges of life on the Moon

For the first time since the days of Apollo, people are preparing not only to visit the Moon, but to live and work there for weeks, months – and eventually years.

But what would it be like to spend a long time on the lunar surface? The answer is exciting – and brutally unforgiving. An exciting new era of deep space exploration is opening. The US Artemis program aims to establish a military base on the Moon. It marks an important shift in the way we explore space.

Instead of leaving “flags and footprints” like the Apollo missions did, NASA wants to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, starting on the South Moon.

The program appears in stages. In 2022, the Artemis I mission successfully tested the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft as a combined system in a passive mission around the Moon.

On April 1, 2026, NASA launched the Artemis II ten-day mission, carrying four astronauts to orbit the Moon.

As NASA’s first Orion and SLS spacecraft, Artemis II is a critical mission designed to ensure that life systems, navigation systems, thermal protection and deep space operations all work safely with the people on board.

Before astronauts can live on the Moon, travel there must be proven reliable.

Beyond these initial tasks, NASA’s long-term vision extends far beyond. NASA plans to spend 20 billion dollars (15 million thousand) on the lunar surface, which is intended to support a long and slow landing. This is designed to teach us how to operate sustainably beyond Earth – knowledge that will ultimately feed into future human missions to Mars, the ultimate goal.

Health problems

Living on the Moon will challenge every organ system in the human body. The lunar environment exposes astrologers to a unique environment – a complex set of physical, chemical, biological and psychological pressures that interact with Earth.

These include reduced gravity (about one-sixth of Earth’s), prolonged exposure to harmful radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, toxic lunar dust, isolation, sleep disruption and prolonged confinement.

Unlike scientists in low Earth orbit, lunar crews work outside of Earth’s protective magnetic field. This increases exposure to space radiation, which can damage DNA, disrupt immune function and affect the brain and cardiovascular system in subtle but profound ways.

The reduced gravity also significantly changes the way blood, oxygen and fluids move around the body. Microgravity can disrupt the way blood, oxygen, and sugar are transported to the brain, which can increase the risk of nerve and nerve damage over time.

To better understand these risks, we need to look beyond the individual organs and instead consider the integrome – the way the brain, heart, blood vessels, muscles, bones, immune system and metabolism interact as an integrated entity under spatial conditions. A small disturbance in one system sends waves to the others.

One of the most challenging aspects is that many spatially related physical changes occur insidiously. Astrologers may feel healthy when problems are brewing, manifesting after months or years.

That’s why NASA places such an emphasis on long-term physiological monitoring and human risk reduction in its Artemis science strategy.

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Read more: NASA plans to have a permanent base on the Moon by 2030 – how to do it

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To reduce the risk

The good news is that people are incredibly adaptable. The challenge is to guide that change in safe and sustainable ways. Spacecraft measures are tools used to reduce the risk and maintain the health of astronauts.

Exercise is still the cornerstone. On the International Space Station, scientists spend about two hours a day exercising to maintain muscle mass, bone density and heart function. On the Moon, however, exercise systems must be reconfigured for infinite gravity, where conventional Earth-based equipment no longer works.

Nutrition is another powerful countermeasure. Diet influences bone health, muscle maintenance, immunity and even how the body responds to radiation.

Nutritional strategies, adapted to the physiology of the individual rather than a “one-size-fits-all menu”, may be particularly important during long-term travel.

Artificial gravity is also explored. Short-radius centrifuges can expose astronauts to brief periods of increased gravity, which can help stabilize the cardiovascular system. While still experimental, this approach may be useful for future work.

Radiation protection will depend on several levels of protection: shelter protection – which may use buildings made of lunar soil – early warning systems for solar storms, and operational methods that reduce exposure in high-risk periods.

Importantly, countermeasures should be effective rather than reactive. Continuous physical monitoring, wearable sensors and advanced data analytics can allow mission teams to recognize signs of discipline and intervene before small problems become work-inhibiting.

Spending a long time on the Moon will be amazing. Imagine watching the Earth hang motionless above a still, calm landscape, or in action under an unchanging blue sky.

But it will also be heavy, uncomfortable and unforgiving. The moon is not just a destination – it is a test of our biology.

If we can learn how to keep people healthy, strong and productive on the moon, we are taking a decisive step towards becoming a true space species. Artemis shows that research is no longer short-term heroes.

It’s about sustainability, adaptability and understanding ourselves as deeply as the worlds we want to explore.

When we learn to live on the Moon, we can ultimately learn as much about life on Earth as we do about our future beyond.