Space Exploration

Space exploration imposes new challenges on human systems and terrestrial life in general.

Space Medicine in-flight debilitation, long-term

failure to recover, clinical capabilities, and skill retention

Advanced Life Support atmosphere, water, thermal

control, logistics, waste disposalEnvironmental Health

atmosphere, water, contaminants

Planetary Extra-Vehicular Activity

dust, suit design, serviceability

Radiation Effects carcinogenesis, CNS damage,

fertility, sterility, heredity

Medical Care

Environment &

Technology

Human Behavior

& Performa

nce

Risk Elements & Categories

HumanHealth &Performan

ceHuman Performance

psychosocial, workload, sleep

Beyond Tang: The Hidden Benefits of the Space Program

• Technology developed for space program has often subsequently provided practical benefits to society.

• Such as:– Robotic surgery– telemedicine

Image Processing Image Processing

technology now used in CAT scans and MRI evolved from techniques originally developed for analyzing lunar and planetary images.

Highway Monitoring Monitoring of traffic

at multiple intersections and highways was developed from NASA Mission Control technology.

Other Transportation Spinoffs

Composite Materials

Fuel Cell Technology

Automatic Navigation Systems

Communications Communication

satellites have revolutionized long-distance telephone communications.

Much of the cell phone technology has been derived from space program spinoffs.

Other Consumer Spinoffs

Camera ChipsChair Lifts

Fiber Optics

Weather Satellites Weather satellites have dramatically

improved weather forecasts and severe weather predictions.

Miniaturization

Much of the technology which has led to smaller computers was derived from NASA’s need to reduce weight on space missions.

Issues related to Space Exploration

1. Ethical Issues

• Ethics = the set of moral principles and values that guide our actions and help us to decide what is right and what is wrong.

• How do we ensure that space resources will be used to help all humankind, rather than just to provide an advantage for one country or another?

• Do humans have the right to explore other environments around the solar system?

• Do humans have the right to take materials from other bodies in the solar system?

2. Environmental Issues

• How will space exploration affect Earth s ′natural systems?

• Who will be responsible for policing environmental impacts?

• Who is responsible for cleaning up any damage or debris caused by space exploration and development?

3. Political Issues

• Who owns space resources?• Should countries share technology and

resources?• Who should decide how space resources will

be used?• Space exploration is very expensive!• Sending humans into space is risky and

dangerous.