Human Health and Performance

In 2025, NASA awarded KBR the Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC2), which began its five-year performance period on November 1, 2025. Through this contract, UTMB has partnered with KBR to provide services in astronaut health, occupational health, and research at NASA's Johnson Space Center. There are two optional extensions that could continue the HHPC2 contract through 2035. UTMB Aerospace Medicine is proud to serve as a teammate on HHPC2, continuing our commitment to advancing human health and performance in space.

Our Services

Medical Operations

UTMB physicians provide services to KBR and NASA, including monitoring, safety oversight, and medical care for NASA astronauts, families, and staff at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia; Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan; and other related facilities. Many of the flight surgeons who support medical operations in Russia also provide direct medical support to astronauts during ISS missions. Physicians are certified to work in the Mission Control Center in Houston, and also support NASA with commercial crew training, launches, and landings.

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health and performance is part of the comprehensive care in support of spaceflight operations. UTMB psychiatrists and psychologists play a valuable role in advising, administering, and performing professional and scientific work including prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and referral in aerospace psychiatry. UTMB personnel are also involved in ground-based analog projects. Additionally, assistance is provided with various aspects of mission preparation, in-flight services, and post-flight recovery for crews and their families of ISS and other missions.

NASA Human Research Program

The Human Research Program is dedicated to discovering the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. A variety of research scientists are employed by UTMB in support of the HRP mission. This includes investigatory endeavors in a number of areas such as human factors, medical risk assessment and system design, food science, and advanced medical technologies.

Thank You!

A token of thanks to all our HHP personnel for their continued support of the NASA/KBR mission:

  • Yael Barr, MD, MPH
  • Keith Brandt, MD, MPH
  • Tarah Castleberry, DO, MPH
  • Natacha Chough, MD, MPH
  • Richard Cole, MD, MPH
  • William Fernandez, MD, MPH
  • Eric Kerstman, MD, MPH
  • Amy Kreykes, MD, MPH
  • Craig Kutz, MD, PhD, MPH
  • Jennifer Law, MD, MPH
  • Rebecca Mendelsohn, MD, MPH
  • Carlos Navarro, MD, MPH
  • Derek Nusbaum, MD, PhD, MPH
  • Kristi Ray, DO, MPH
  • Mark Sheehan, MD, MPH
  • Thomas Skinner, MD
  • Emily Stratton, DO, MPH
  • Corey Theriot, PhD
  • John Trentini, MD, PhD
  • William Valencia, MD, MPH
  • Simone Willingham, MD
  • Sara Zwart, PhD