Spaceflight-associated Motion Sickness in Commercial Crew Astronauts
Authors: Torin K. Clark, Aaron A. Allred, Jaime Mateus, Marissa Rosenberg
Abstract
Spaceflight-associated motion sickness, including space motion sickness (SMS) and terrestrial readaptation motion sickness (TRMS), has presented as the most operationally limiting effect on the human in the days following a gravity transition. Published data suggest that astronaut head movements provoke symptoms, but those studies rarely controlled for them. Most previous studies use postflight retrospective reporting and have not quantified temporal dynamics or persistence of symptoms; no study has published motion sickness in a cohort of commercial flyers. Here, we comprehensively evaluate SMS and TRMS within commercial flyers (N=8; 4F, 4M) for the first time, across two commercial missions of short duration (Polaris Dawn and Fram2). Utilizing a standard reporting methodology, we find an 87.5% incidence of SMS, which persisted for at least three days on orbit in 25% of crewmembers. The symptoms included vomiting in 62.5% of crewmembers. Regarding TRMS, incidence was 50%, severity was significantly lower than SMS (p = 0.007), and it tended to persist for a shorter duration than SMS for these short-duration flights. These findings establish a systematic baseline for spaceflight-associated motion sickness, informing its operational impact and salience as human spaceflight missions expand in accessibility and scope.
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Closest papers
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Neurovestibular symptoms following space flightK. Bacal, R. Billica, S. Bishop · 2003 · Journal of Vestibular Research-Equilibrium & Orientation · Not summarized yet
Abstract
Neurovestibular symptoms experienced by astronauts in the post-flight period were examined using data from medical debriefs contained in the NASA Longitudinal Study of Astronaut Health database. Ten symptoms were identified (clumsiness, difficulty concentrating, persisting sensation aftereffects, nausea, vomiting, vertigo while walking, vertigo while standing, difficulty walking a straight line, blurred vision, and dry heaves), of which eight were crossed with twelve demographic parameters (mission duration, astronaut gender, age, one-g piloting experience, previous space flight experience, g-suit inflation, g-suit deflation, in-flight space motion sickness, in-flight exercise, post-flight e…
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Post-exposure effects of simulator sickness in motion-based flight simulators: a review of symptom duration and implications for flight fitnessNico Willebrand Genannt Overgahr, David Feibus, S. Sammito · 2026 · Frontiers in Physiology · Not summarized yet
Abstract
Introduction The increasing use of modern motion-based flight simulators in military and civil aviation, despite their high relevance for training, is accompanied by the occurrence of simulator sickness. While acute symptoms during simulation are well described, the duration of post-exposure complaints and their significance for subsequent real flight capability have not yet been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this exploratory review was to summarise the available studies on the (persistence of) symptoms after flight-related simulator training. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. From a total o…
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Space and Entry Motion SicknessH. Ortega, D. Harm, M. Reschke · 2019 · Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight · Not summarized yet
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CLINICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SLEEP IN THE CONDITIONS OF SPACE FLIGHTG. Kovrov, A. Vlasova, O. N. Isaeva · 2026 · Aerospace and Environmental Medicine · Not summarized yet
Abstract
Sleep disorders carry the risk to health and safety of cosmonauts during space missions. The review considers the data about incidence, mechanisms and strategies for sleep disorders management based on analysis of the evidence collected in the NASA shuttles and ISS missions. It was shown that up to 94 % crew members experience sleep disorders and use sleeping drugs quite often. Key changes in the sleep structure include shortening of the REM and deep sleep, and total sleep duration. The main contributing factors are microgravity, desynchronization of circadian rhythms, noise, stresses and heavy workload. The present sleep management strategies consist of the work-rest schedule optimization, …
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Vestibular time constant and individual susceptibility to motion sickness in real-world drivingSeonghyeon Kim, Jaesik Yang, S. Hong et al. · 2026 · Scientific Reports · Not summarized yet
Abstract
Motion sickness is an important challenge for the acceptance of autonomous vehicles. Although the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ) is widely used, it relies on retrospective self-report and does not directly capture vestibular characteristics. This study examined the association between the vestibular time constant (VTC), which reflects the velocity storage mechanism, and motion sickness severity during on-road driving. VTC was measured in 24 female adults; 21 completed four 30-min acceleration sessions, and all 24 completed nine 30-min deceleration sessions involving regenerative braking. Motion sickness severity was repeatedly assessed using the Misery Scale (MISC). MSSQ…
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Impact of Prolonged Spaceflight on Cardiac Structure and Function: An Exploratory Longitudinal Observational Study.V. Appadurai, Kazuaki Negishi, Allen G. Borowski et al. · 2026 · Circulation · Not summarized yet
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gravitational gradients, ranging from the surface of the Earth (1 G) to the microgravity of spaceflight (0 G), including intermediate gravitational fields such as those on Mars (⅜ G), directly affect cardiovascular hemodynamics. We sought to track changes in cardiac structure and function over the course of long-duration spaceflight and compare them with responses to specific gravitational loads measured preflight and postflight in a uniquely simulated Martian gravitational load. METHODS We performed a prospective, within-subject, repeated-measures observational study of astronauts during flights to the International Space Station, with acquisition of echocardiographic variables d…
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Artificial gravity for long-duration human spaceflight: physiological rationale, evidence gaps, risks, and research prioritiesM. Briard, Sarah Baatout · 2026 · Frontiers in Space Technologies · Not summarized yet
Abstract
Long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit will expose crews to prolonged microgravity during transit and partial gravity on the Moon or Mars. Existing exercise, nutritional, pharmacological, and sensorimotor countermeasures mitigate selected aspects of deconditioning but do not reproduce gravity’s continuous multisystem stimulus. Artificial gravity (AG), generated by rotation, is therefore a promising integrative countermeasure. This structured narrative review evaluates the physiological rationale for AG, evidence from human centrifugation and ground-based analog studies, human-factors and engineering constraints, and priorities for exploration missions. Evidence is strongest for the ac…
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Neurovestibular adaptation to spaceflight: Research progressC. Oman · 2003 · Journal of Vestibular Research-Equilibrium & Orientation · Not summarized yet
Abstract
This double issue of the Journal of Vestibular Research contains eight vestibular research papers from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). NASA established the NSBRI in 1997 through a nationwide competition. Research teams of scientists were formed in several disciplines of physiology related to long duration spaceflight, including the neurovestibular function. During the first five years of NSBRI research, each team’s goal has been to define the biomedical problems associated with long duration spaceflight, to understand the basic mechanisms, and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals. The teams also have the important additional goal of defining, developing, and v…
Prior work it builds on
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Simulation of space adaptation syndrome on earthW. Ockels, R. Furrer, E. Messerschmid · 2004 · Experimental Brain Research · Not summarized yet
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Motion sickness: a synthesis and evaluation of the sensory conflict theory.C. Oman · 1990 · Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology · Not summarized yet
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