ATRIAL ARRHYTHMIAS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SPACE FLIGHT - INTRODUCTION J.D. Polk1, Y.R. Barr2, P. Bauer1, D.R. Hamilton2, E. Kerstman2, B. Tarver1 1NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, 2 The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, This panel will discuss the implications of atrial arrhythmias in astronauts from a variety of perspectives; including historical data, current practices, and future challenges for exploration class missions. The panelists will present case histories, outline the evolution of current NASA medical standards for atrial arrhythmias, discuss the use of predictive tools, and consider potential challenges for current and future missions. 1