Due to the differences between terrestrial conditions and those in space environments, it is necessary to approach to drug delivery and therapies in a specific way. Microgravity, radiation effects, and confined environments must be factored in during the design of healthcare for the astronauts. As both the volume and the mass of cargo add a certain cost to its launching to space, theranostic and nanotechnology-based approaches are preferable, as they combine therapy and diagnostics, thus decreasing the payload. Since nanoparticle-based systems can enable the enhanced absorption of the active substance and provide efficient targeting, the dose of the active substance can be more precise, limiting possible undesirable side effects. Several types of nanoparticles exhibit potential in this context, including magnetic, plasmonic and hybrid nanoparticles. Functionalization with various compounds further enhances their properties, making them well-suited for targeted active substance delivery and other respective applications. Iron oxide-based nanoparticles can exhibit magnetic properties, the nature of which is tunable with their size and shape. That allows for magnetic field navigation, as well as their use in imaging. Respectively, plasmonic properties (localized surface plasmon resonance, LSPR) of gold and silver nanoparticles make them valuable in biosensing, especially for lab-on-a-chip systems, which are particularly promising in extreme and isolated environments. A review of recent advances in the use of such nanoparticle materials in medicine with regard to space applications, along with the results of measurements of properties of gold nanorods is presented.