Crew Selection and Psychological Considerations The type of mission that a large solar power satellite construction will require will likely be unique from the short duration US Space Shuttle missions and even the longer duration missions more typical of the Soviet / Russian space program. The construction of the proposed Space Station Freedom will likely provide us with helpful information on what factors are important in space construction crew selection and crew interactions and schedules. Due to the large cost of transporting crews from Earth to the construction site, the crews will likely remain in orbit for extended durations, necessitating some type of habitat. The duration of EVA is predicted at around six or seven hours for Freedom construction [Barratt, 1992], This regime of long working hours for extended durations will require some scheduling of time off for crew members and will need to be worked out considering the expense of the workers' time, the productivity and safety of operations etc.. As well, the type of individual best suited to carry out large scale construction in space has not received much attention. What type of background training should they possess? Should they be selected from the same pool as traditional astronauts or from a pool of those who carry out construction on Earth? These issues need to be examined in greater detail before large scale construction is attempted. Medical Facilities and Crew Habitat Ideally, a large scale space construction project would include facilities providing a maximum level of medical care to those involved. Realistically, the facilities will maintain an intermediate level of medical care targeted toward the most likely problems, with the ability to transport to the ground if required [Barratt, 1992b]. Another important concept is that the hardware provided to treat these medical incidents must be matched by an appropriate skill level of the medical officer. As well, the medical officer should have access to both an on-site and ground medical database with diagnostic software and crew histories. Additionally, a telemedicine link should be set up between the facility and flight surgeons on the ground. Recognized physiological responses to micro gravity and appropriate countermeasures have previously been discussed. Table 6.7 [Barratt, 1992b] outlines possible likely events of SSPP construction requiring medical treatment. Table 6.7 Possible Events Leading to Requirement for ________________________ On-Orbit Medical Care________ ____________ Event Potential Causes Emergency Procedures Medical Impacts Loss of Pressure Debris/meteoroid impact Systems failure Seal / Hatch Failure Seconds to hours (Don O2 masks, pres, suit, repair, evacuate) Decompression disorders Hypoxia Trauma (secondary projectiles) Fire/Explosion Electrical circuit overload Volatile material release Rupture of pressurized container Seconds to minutes (don O2 masks, goggles, extinguish fire, evacuate immediate area) Minutes to hours (effect repairs, evacuate) Bums Smoke inhalation Blast trauma Toxic Substance Release Rupture of Containment line or vessel Seconds to minutes (don O2 masks , evacuate affected module, stop toxic release) Minutes to hours (decontamination, clean up procedures, gloves, etc., evacuate) Toxic inhalation Lung injury Hypoxia Primary Medical Event Decompression sickness Electrical shock Infectious disease Isolated trauma Seconds to minutes (emergency care, CPR, stabilize for treatment or transport) Minutes to hours (treat with available medical facilities, evacuate ill or injured) Per primary event Cross infection of crew Rapid use of medical consumables
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