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.
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