Michele Perchonok
Papers
1
Total Citations
39
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1
About
Michele Perchonok is a leading figure in space food systems and human health in extreme environments. Her research focuses on developing safe, nutritious, and palatable food for long-duration space missions, including those to Mars. A key contribution is her work on the effects of reduced cabin pressure and elevated oxygen levels—such as the 8 psia / 32% O2 atmosphere—on human physiology and performance during extravehicular activity (EVA). Her 2013 paper on this topic, cited 39 times, highlights the critical balance between life support constraints and astronaut safety. Perchonok’s impact extends beyond the lab; she served as NASA’s Advanced Food Technology Project Manager, pioneering shelf-stable foods and bioregenerative systems that enable crew autonomy. Her work has shaped NASA’s approach to food for the International Space Station and future Artemis missions. With a career dedicated to ensuring astronauts thrive in isolation, Perchonok’s contributions are foundational to sustainable human space exploration.
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