MISSION TO MARS: RADIATION SAFETY OR RADIATION DISASTER? SPACE TRANSIT AND MARS RADIATION EXPOSURE RISKS – THE POTENTIAL SHIELDING EFFECT OF AN INTRAVEHICULAR GRAPHENE SPACE SUIT AND A STORM SHELTER DURING SPACE TRAVEL

Tim Squire/ Grant Buchanan/ Hany Elsaleh

Aim Aim The purpose of this research was to employ radiobiological as well as physics principles to investigate materials for an intravehicular spacesuit and a “storm shelter” that might minimize radiation exposure to astronauts during a mission to Mars. Methods Methods NASA’s OLTARIS space radiation modelling tool was used to investigate thirty-two potential shielding materials. Radiation exposure was estimated during a return transit to Mars of 360 days duration. We assessed each shielding mat(..)

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-001

CHALLENGES IN ANAESTHESIA DURING SPACE EXPLORATION MISSIONS

Stuart Benson/ Gordon Cable/ Lorna Workman

Aim Aim NASA and private spacefaring companies plan to send exploration missions to mars within the next two decades. The environment of space, duration of the mission, distance from earth, and limited available resources present significant challenges for the provision of health care. It has been estimated that at least one medical emergency is likely to occur during such a mission, which may necessitate surgical treatment, and therefore anaesthesia. The provision of safe anaesthesia faces chal(..)

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-002

THE PLACE OF PSYCHOMETRIC TESTING IN PILOT SELECTION

Peter Clem

Aim Aim Pilot training has always been a relatively expensive undertaking. So attempts to control these costs by predicting the likelihood of success or failure is a constant that is almost as old as aviation itself. Incorporation of Psychometric testing was made to pilot selection in the years between the first and second world wars. Despite the many changes that have occurred in this area, psychometric testing continues to feature in modern systems of pilot aptitude testing. This paper reviews(..)

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-003

THE ELEVATED RISK OF MELANOMA AMONG PILOTS – COULD UVA BE IMPLICATED?

Nicola Emslie

ABSTRACT A number of studies indicate that pilots have approximately double the risk of developing melanoma compared to the general population. It is not clear which aetiological factors underpin this increase in risk. Possibilities include leisure time sun exposure, cosmic radiation, circadian rhythm disruption and UV exposures in the cockpit. This brief review presents some of the key research on exposures of interest, with a focus on UV radiation. It highlights the need for further research a(..)

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-004

SQNLDR (Doctor) Lana Jennifer Lynnelle Davies

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-005

DANGERS OF DEFIBRILLATION IN FLIGHT

Adam Beebeejaun/ Howard Roby

Aim Aim Defibrillation is a critical aspect of advanced life support, but the inherent risks in the procedure are increased when used during an aeromedical retrieval. The dangers of defibrillation in flight can be divided in to fire, electrical, avionic interference and physical carriage and packaging. A limited body of evidence exists concerning defibrillation in flight, in part, due to under-reporting. Changes in incident reporting, increased team based simulation training and awareness of the(..)

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-006

EDITORIAL

David Fitzgerald

DOI: 10.21307/asam-2019-007