UF at Work

Health challenges astronauts face after nine months in space

As part of the University of Florida’s ongoing research into astronaut health, Rachael Seidler, Ph.D., a leading expert in spaceflight-associated health changes, is studying the long-term effects of space travel on astronauts’ brains and bodies.

Seidler’s research, part of a broader collaboration with NASA to assess astronaut long-term health, focuses on understanding how the central nervous system and brain structure adapt to the challenges of space travel, as well as how these changes affect performance, balance and mobility once astronauts return to Earth.