Prospective Areas for Development of Biomedical Technologies for a Piloted Martian Mission

Paper number

IAC-05-A1.2.02

Author

Dr. Anatoly I. Grigoriev, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia

Coauthor

Dr. Anatoly N. Potapov, Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russia

Year

2005

Abstract

It is maintained that the biomedical system (BMS) for a piloted Martian mission will be designed with the best use of the medical experience in the long-term orbital missions along with the integration of informational and other critical technologies properly verified on the ground and in space. 
The core of Martian BMS will be a self-sustained biomedical complex the functions of which will be centered round maintenance of crew health and performance, prevention of altered-gravity effects, psychological stress reduction, reliable radiation protection, and environmental control.
According to the present concept of the self-sustained space medical center, it is supposed to have every means for medical diagnostics, treatment and prevention, and also health prediction and control. The pillars of this center will be advanced information technologies, recent developments of telemedicine, bio- and nanotechnologies. In the exploration mission the factor of crew independence and reliance on the information systems at hand will be of the essence, and the board information systems will be placed in the forefront.
The system of counteracting the effects of altered gravity is likely to comprise enhanced exercise machines and apparatuses, and a short-radius centrifuge.
To control mental performance and behavior, revision of the criteria of crew selection, building and training will be required with the emphasis on optimization of interpersonal, team and intercultural relations, growth in human reliability, and search for methods and programs to ensure crew effectiveness and emotional stability.
The critical thing for life support will be development of the closest possible cycles of matter and energy, methods for in situ microbial and toxicity monitoring, and wastes storage and processing.
As far as radiation safety is concerned, aside from the concerns about dosimetry and monitoring, there is increasing awareness of the importance to know possible biological effects from the whole spectrum of space radiation along the trajectory and on the planet surface, to set dose limits and to develop ways to protect the crew from excess exposure; a system for short- and long-range radiation prediction will be also required.
Absence of a real national or international initiative to launch an exploration mission to Mars must not be an obstacle to shaping the concept of and designing technologies for crew biomedical system, and associated hard work on their research and development.

Abstract document

IAC-05-A1.2.02.pdf

Manuscript document

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