Illustration of NASA astronauts on the lunar South Pole. Credit: NASA
Illustration of NASA astronauts on the lunar South Pole. Credit: NASA

Imagine you’re on the moon, digging up lunar regolith. You’re focused on the task at hand when you suddenly slip and fall, right into your pickaxe. Even in the moon’s weaker gravitational field, accidents are a real possibility. A sharp pain flares up on your right side, and you call for your nearby crewmate. Is the pain due to a contusion, or is it a sign of something more serious?

To continue reading this article:

Register now and get
3 free articles every month.

You’ll also receive our weekly SpaceNews This Week newsletter every Friday. Opt-out at any time.

Sign in to an existing account

Get unlimited access to
SpaceNews.com now.

Use code SNLAUNCH for 30% off your first payment.

Subscriptions renew automatically at full price. Cancel anytime. Sales tax may apply. No refunds. Only one discount code valid per subscription.

See all subscription options

Dorit Donoviel, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), a NASA-funded consortium of Baylor College of Medicine, California Institute for Technology and Massachusetts Institute for Technology....