  As human spaceflight seeks to expand beyond low-Earth orbit, NASA and its
international partners face numerous challenges related to ensuring the safety
of their astronauts, including the need to provide a safe and effective
pharmacy for long-duration spaceflight. Historical missions have relied upon
frequent resupply of onboard pharmaceuticals; as a result, there has been
little study into the effects of long-term exposure of pharmaceuticals to the
space environment. Of particular concern are the long-term effects of space
radiation on drug stability, especially as missions venture away from the
protective proximity of the Earth. Here we highlight the risk of space
radiation to pharmaceuticals during exploration spaceflight, identifying the
limitations of current understanding. We further seek to identify ways in which
these limitations could be addressed through dedicated research efforts aimed
towards the rapid development of an effective pharmacy for future spaceflight
endeavors.
