Exploring NASA’s Strategies for Managing Death in Space: What You Need to Know

NASA has thought about some tough situations in space, including the possibility of losing an astronaut. So far, no astronaut has died in space, but the agency has plans to handle that worst-case scenario if it ever happens. They have protocols ready for when astronauts are on the International Space Station (ISS).

In case of a death, NASA uses a special device called the Human Remains Containment Unit (HRCU). This unit, designed like military equipment, was sent to the ISS in 2012. Similar to how morgues on Earth use refrigeration, the HRCU would be kept in a cold area to slow down decomposition. It also has absorbent materials and filters to manage odors, giving NASA roughly 72 hours to decide how to proceed.

Right now, a burial in space isn’t practical. Without medical examiners, astronauts have to take on the role of forensic investigators. They’d photograph the body and collect samples, all while coordinating with flight surgeons from Earth. Afterward, there would be a brief memorial for the crew to grieve before handling the remains.

Returning an astronaut’s body to Earth is the likely route. The HRCU has features that allow it to be secured in a spacecraft. It’s crucial to avoid leaving the body in space; it could drift and potentially be seen by another crew or spacecraft in the future. Though a space burial, like the one imagined in “Star Trek,” isn’t on the table currently, it does offer food for thought about what could be possible in distant missions.

The impact of a death in space would be significant, not just for the crew but for the public. Past incidents, like the Apollo 1 tragedy, shook the nation and almost halted the lunar program before it began. This led to major changes, including a speech prepared by Bill Safire, then President Nixon’s speechwriter, to address the nation had Apollo 11 ended in disaster. The speech began with a somber note: “Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.”

While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin returned safely, NASA still faced tragedies, with the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters causing national mourning. Nowadays, as commercial spaceflight grows, the effect of a death in orbit might be viewed differently, like a workplace accident. This shift in perception complicates the landscape for future missions and highlights the stakes involved.