Trend
Hardwiring People for Space
Some have proposed using CRISPR to edit the genes of astronauts before they go into space to protect their bodies from long-term impacts. NASA.
About This Trend
Space travel can be risky, even long after a rocket is launched. Those who go to space are subject to higher levels of radiation than they experience on Earth, which can increase their chances of getting cancer and other diseases. Changes in gravity can also have extended impacts on a person's genes.
Consequently, scientists have proposed using CRISPR to edit the genes of astronauts before they go into space to protect their bodies from long-term impacts. Though such a treatment is not yet possible, the potential for a future with a subset of people designed to live in space — Homo spatialis — remains.
Trend Updates
Jan. 27, 2026 — 2025 Updates
- A previously unknown strain of bacteria was found on a Chinese space station, raising questions about what humans might need to be prepared for in space.
Trend Reports
APA's foresight research is made possible in part through our partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.