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Haughton-Mars Project (HMP)/NASA 2006 Lunar Medical Contingency Simulation: An OverviewMedical requirements are currently being developed for NASA's space exploration program. Lunar surface operations for crews returning to the moon will be performed on a daily basis to conduct scientific research and construct a lunar habitat. Inherent to aggressive surface activities is the potential risk of injury to crew members. To develop an evidence-base for handling medical contingencies on the lunar surface, a simulation project was conducted using the moon-Mars analog environment at Devon Island, Nunavut, high Canadian Arctic. A review of the Apollo lunar surface activities and personal communications with Apollo lunar crew members provided a knowledge base of plausible scenarios that could potentially injure an astronaut during a lunar extravehicular activity. Objectives were established to 1) demonstrate stabilization, field extraction and transfer an injured crew member to the habitat and 2) evaluate audio, visual and biomedical communication capabilities with ground controllers at multiple mission control centers. The simulation project s objectives were achieved. Among these objectives were 1) extracting a crew member from a sloped terrain by a two-member team in a 1-g analog environment, 2) establishing real-time communication to multiple space centers, 3) providing biomedical data to flight controllers and crew members, and 4) establishing a medical diagnosis and treatment plan from a remote site. The simulation project provided evidence for the types of equipment and methods needed for planetary space exploration. During the project, the crew members were confronted with a number of unexpected scenarios including environmental, communications, EVA suit, and navigation challenges. These trials provided insight into the challenges of carrying out a medical contingency in an austere environment. The knowledge gained from completing the objectives of this project will be incorporated into the exploration medical requirements involving an incapacited astronaut on the lunar surface.
Document ID
20060056230
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Scheuring, R. A.
(Wyle Labs., Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Jones, J. A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Lee, P.
(Mars Inst. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Comtois, J. M.
(Canadian Space Agency Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Chappell, S.
(Colorado Rocky Mountain Rescue Boulder, CO, United States)
Rafiq, A.
(Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Richmond, VA, United States)
Braham, S.
(Simon Fraser Univ. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada)
Hodgson, E.
(Hamilton-Sundstrand Space, Land and Sea Windsor Locks, CT, United States)
Sullivan, P.
(Canadian Space Agency Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Wilkinson, N.
(Mars Inst. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
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
Other

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