Astronauts heading to Mars might face a big problem with their medications.
A new study has found that over half of the medicines they bring—like painkillers, antibiotics, allergy meds, and sleep aids—could expire before they return to Earth.
This means astronauts might have to rely on drugs that are less effective or even harmful.
The study, published in npj Microgravity, highlights a significant issue for long space missions. “It doesn’t mean the medicines won’t work at all,” says Daniel Buckland, a senior author of the study and an assistant professor at Duke University School of Medicine.
“But just like you shouldn’t take expired meds at home, space agencies need to plan for the reduced effectiveness of expired drugs.”
Medications can lose their potency over time. In space, this problem is worse because of the harsh environment, including radiation. The exact impact of space on medicine stability is still largely unknown.
Buckland, along with co-author Thomas E. Diaz, a pharmacy resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital, stresses that expired medications will be a challenge for missions to Mars and beyond.
Diaz used a Freedom of Information Act request to get information about the medications used on the International Space Station (ISS), assuming NASA would use similar ones for a Mars mission.
The researchers looked at a database of international drug expiration dates and found that 54 out of 91 medicines had a shelf life of 36 months or less. Even with the best-case scenario, about 60% of these medicines would expire before a Mars mission ends. With more conservative estimates, this figure rises to 98%.
The study did not consider accelerated degradation of the drugs but focused on the lack of resupply options for a Mars mission. This issue affects not only medications but also other critical supplies like food. Bringing more medications on board could help, but it’s not a perfect solution.
“Those responsible for the health of space flight crews will have to find ways to extend the expiration of medications to complete a Mars mission duration of three years, select medications with longer shelf lives, or accept the elevated risk associated with administering expired medication,” Diaz explains.
Astronauts do get ill on the ISS, but they have real-time communication with Earth and a well-stocked pharmacy that is regularly resupplied. This setup helps prevent minor issues from becoming major problems. However, this won’t be the case for Mars missions, where resupply isn’t possible.
The study highlights the need for space agencies to find solutions for medication stability on long-duration missions. Without such solutions, astronauts might face significant health risks due to expired drugs.
The study did not receive any external funding.
