Medical Requirements for a Mars Mission

1
Medical Requirements for a Mars Mission

• By Marlo S. Graves
• University of Houston, SICSA
• Masters in Space Architecture

2
Crew Composition

• Engineer
• Electrical 2
• Software 2
• Technical/Mechanical 3
• Nuclear 2
• Scientists
• Geologist/Areologist 2
• Biologist 1
• Chemist 1
• Farming/Agronomist 2
• Materials - 1

• Crew Size 8
• Duration of Trip
• Transfer time183 days
• Mars stay 365 days
• Skills Required
• Medical
• General Practitioner 2
• Surgeon 2
• Dental 2
• Counselor 1

3
Common Ailments during Long Duration Missions

• Space motion sickness
• Injuries bruises and sprains
• Eye problems
• Nasal congestion and bleeding
• Respiratory problems - bronchitis
• Middle ear inflammations
• Skin disorders
• Toothache
• Gastrointestinal disorders nausea, vomiting
• Nervous system and mental disorders depression,
  sleep disorders, hallucinations
• Heart problems
• Radiation exposure

4
Size of Medical Kits

• Apollo 16 7kg
• Shuttle 14 kg 0.15 cm3
• Skylab 45 kg 0.22 m3
• Freedom (study) 460 kg 1.7 m3
• Mars 2000kg 10m3(per vehicle)

5
Allocation of Medical Supplies

• 20 for Fatal Injuries
• 30 for Workability
• 50 for Comfort

6
Types of Kits

• Microscope
• Hematology/urinalysis
• Microbiology
• I.V. Fluids
• Drug
• Minor surgery
• Dental
• Diagnostic
• Bandage

7
Diagnostic Equipment

• Ultrasound
• Dosimeters

8
Microgravity Countermeasures

• Treadmill
• IRED resistive exercise device
• Negative pressure suit
• Amount of exercise required per day 2 hrs

9
Design Issues

• Part of ceiling free from equipment
• Orienting patients in 3-D
• Inadequate volume for storage
• No dedicated and private hygiene facility
• Crowded conditions
• Low area lighting and poor portable lighting
• Limited accessibility to hardware

10
Future issues to discuss

• Experiments to conduct
• Laboratory equipment
• Effects of partial gravity
• Effects of varying gravity environments on the
  body(Descent into Mars 5gs. Crew will probably
  be unconscious)
• Waste storage

11
General Equipment List

•         Ventilation Equipment
• Defibrillation Equipment
•         Surgical Supplies
•         Anesthesia
•         Dental Equipment
•         Pharmaceuticals with a Shelf Life of 3-5
  Years
•         Wound Dressing
•         Splints
•         Reusable Needles and Intravenous (IV)
  Materials
•         Ultrasound
•         Blood Products
•         Hyperbaric Treatment
•         Waste Storage

12
Large Medical Equipment Items

• Hyperbaric Chamber
• 2.8 atmospheres, 100 oxygen
• To treat decompression sickness
• Make an entire module a hyperbaric chamber
• Refrigerator
• For blood products

13
Monitoring Health

• ISS
• ECLSS takes 2 racks in each module
• Ventilations
• CO2 used as a measure
• 6000-7000 parts per million on ISS
• 13,000 parts per million no health risks
• CO2 not recycled its exposed to space

14
Biomedical monitoring

• Should be noninvasive
• Miniaturize sensors so they dont interfere
• Daily
• Measure exercise intensity heart rate
• Monitor sleep periods
• Measure quality of sleep circadian rhythm
• Periodical monitoring
• Metabolic gases, body temp etc
• Info sent to med officer, ground and crew member

15
EVA Biomedical Monitoring

• Measurements inside EVA suit
• Air temp, humidity suit pressure
• Metabolic rate, skin temp
• External variables
• Radiation type dosage
• External temperature
• Predict solar particle events by measuring
• X-ray, optical radio frequency flares
• (these precede an SPE between 1hour or 1 day

16
Analysis of Water

• Benign microbes can be very hazardous to crew b/c
  of weakened immune system
• ISS data
• 100 bacteria per 100ml

17
Summary

• An entire hospital is required
• Space no larger than walk-in closet available
• Preventative Care is the focus
• Crew compatibility is essential