Space Medicine
Space Medicine
Astronauts face the harshest environments ever experienced by human beings. The medical and physiological stressors from outer space on the human body cannot be understated. For this reason, NASA and other space organizations employ physicians and teams of other health professionals to care for their space explorers. They also conduct medical research on various topics involving humans in space.
Presently, humans consistently reside on the International Space Station for months. As space exploration increases in scope and private organizations get involved, we will likely see longer duration space missions. Loss of bone density, fluid shifts, and circadian rhythm disturbaces are only a handful of physiologic responses that space medicine docs must contend.
Explore additional topics in Space Medicine below!
Want to work for Elon Musk?
As Space X continues to expand into human space exploration so does their need for experts in space medicine & physiology. Become Space X’s next Flight Surgeon Anil Menon has…
Dr Story Musgrave – Physician, Pilot, Astronaut
I recall seeing an inspiring commercial from US Navy recruiters (see below) some years ago. After showing a series of action-packed video clips, the narrator asks the provocative question: “If someone…
Cosmic Radiation
Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR’s) are considered a threat to aviators, flight crews and frequent air travelers. This risk to astronauts is even greater (possibly even lethal) and continues to pose a significant obstacle…
First American Physician in Space: Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin
Happy 82nd birthday to Dr. Joseph Peter Kerwin!! Dr Kerwin was the first American physician to be selected as an astronaut and sent to outer space by NASA. Born 19…
Trapped Gas – Air Expansion at Altitude
How many people have flown on a long commercial flight and landed at their destination only to find that a toiletry container had opened and spilled its contents all over…
Aeromedical Standards & Fitness for Flight
Aerospace Medicine is essentially a branch of occupational medicine. Unlike traditional medical disciplines where a patient in a normal environment experiences abnormal diseases and pathology, occupational medicine often provides medical services…
Hypoxia in Aviation
Before becoming a flight doc, I often felt skeptical as the flight attendant showcased what appeared to be a yellow Dixie cup connected to an empty IV bag prior to takeoff on…
Decompression Illness in Aviation
Before English chemist, William Henry, took his own life in 1836, he discovered a simple physics law to explain how gas behaves in solution. This gas law, now appropriately known…
Pulling G’s – The Effects of G-Forces on the Human Body
“After dinner, the weather being warm, we went into the garden and drank thea, under the shade of some apple trees…he told me, he was just in the same situation,…
Spatial Disorientation
Human beings have obviously evolved to operate in a terrestrial playing field. But our big brains and ingenuity have allowed our advancements in technology to far outpace our ability to…
Recent Comments
Total BS. When you lose horizon you might go into a slow descent, if you are not trusting your instruments,…
Actually chaplains and doctors both have a duty to chose between conscientious objector and form two personnel. Flight surgeons almost…
Hi Jay, I've just led myself to this article after coming across your PPP slides from the AF Specialty Teleconference,…
Textbook cases of not breathing correctly. Most of them seem to have not even tried.
How do flight surgeons reconcile Geneva Convention status issues? As medical officers, they are non-combatants; as pilots, they definitely ARE.…
Ratstar, I have not yet gained the FAWM suffix. It does remain a personal goal however!
This sounds so cool! Are u a fellow already?
I want to ask that is final year MBBS student (only 1 Year Internship left out of 5.5 years MBBS…
Major Jedick, Very intersting piece. I often wondered this myself- I briefed a flight surgeon once (WX) and we chatted…
We do not need more female physicians or doctors of any specific race or ethnic background. We need the best…