Astrodocs: For these physicians, space is their workplace
Since 1973, 23 U.S. physicians have launched into space. They have taken part in spacewalks, treated fellow crew members and conducted medical research.
Good article, and I had no idea this many physicians had been into space.
Read the cautionary tale, though of 128 days in space requiring years of rehab…
I think the recovery times are dropping.
I spoke to a biomedical engineer who works for NASA before, and one of the major missions of the space station is to find ways to avoid/mitigate the long lasting hazards of weightlessness. This is fairly essential to deep space exploration or even significant exploration within our own solar system.
Space is an inhospitable place, even high altitude is dangerous. I worked in altitude chambers in the late 60’s and routinely was in the altitude chamber teaching student pilots. About 1969 a study of long-term chamber techs showed more than half of them had experienced greater than expected long bone deterioration, presumably from years of exposure to artificially created high altitude.
It was estimated that one chamber tech experienced more actual exposure to physiological high altitude in four years than all the pilots in the USAF combined in a career of 20 years; I guess that’s why we got $55 a month hazardous duty pay.