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Haughton-Mars Project/NASA 2006 Lunar Medical Contingency Simulation: Equipment and Methods for Medical Evacuation of an Injured CrewmemberIntroduction: Achieving NASA's Space Exploration Vision scientific objectives will require human access into cratered and uneven terrain for the purpose of sample acquisition to assess geological, and perhaps even biological features and experiments. Operational risk management is critical to safely conduct the anticipated tasks. This strategy, along with associated contingency plans, will be a driver of EVA system requirements. Therefore, a medical contingency EVA scenario was performed with the Haughton-Mars Project/NASA to develop belay and medical evacuation techniques for exploration and rescue respectively. Methods: A rescue system to allow two rescuer astronauts to evacuate one in incapacitated astronaut was evaluated. The systems main components were a hard-bottomed rescue litter, hand-operated winch, rope, ground picket anchors, and a rover-winch attachment adapter. Evaluation was performed on 15-25deg slopes of dirt with embedded rock. The winch was anchored either by adapter to the rover or by pickets hammered into the ground. The litter was pulled over the surface by rope attached to the winch. Results: The rescue system was utilized effectively to extract the injured astronaut up a slope and to a waiting rover for transport to a simulated habitat for advanced medical care, although several challenges to implementation were identified and overcome. Rotational stabilization of the winch was found to be important to get maximize mechanical advantage from the extraction system. Discussion: Further research and testing needs to be performed to be able to fully consider synergies with the other Exploration surface systems, in conducting contingency operations. Structural attachment points on the surface EVA suits may be critical to assist in incapacitated evacuation. Such attach points could be helpful in microgravity incapacitated crewmember transport as well. Wheeled utility carts or wheels that may be attachable to a litter may also aid in extraction and transport. Utilizing parts of the rover (e.g. seats) to deploy as a litter may be considered. Testing in simulated 1/6-g to determine feasibility of winch operation and anchor establishment will further reduce implementation uncertainties.
Document ID
20060050772
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Chappell, S. P.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Scheuring, R. A.
(Texas Univ. Smithville, TX, United States)
Jones, J. A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Lee, P.
(Mars Inst. Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Comtois, J. M.
(Canadian Space Agency Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Chase, T.
(Hamilton-Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea Windsor Locks, CT, United States)
Gernhardt M.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Wilkinson, N.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2007
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Meeting Information
Meeting: AsMA Annual Conference
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 6, 2007
End Date: May 10, 2007
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS9-02078
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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