Operational Considerations for Crew Fatality on the International Space Station.

While catastrophic spaceflight events resulting in crew loss have occurred, human spaceflight has never suffered an on-orbit fatality with survival of other crewmembers on board. Historical plans for management of an on-orbit fatality have included some consideration for forensic documentation and sample collection, human remains containment, and disposition of remains; however, such plans have not included granular detailing of crew or ground controller actions. The NASA Johnson Space Center Contingency Medical Operations Group, under authority from the Space and Occupational Medicine Branch, the Space Medicine Operations Division, and the Human Health and Performance Directorate, undertook the development of a comprehensive plan, including an integrated Mission Control Center response for flight control teams and Flight Surgeons for a single on-orbit crew fatality on the International Space Station (ISS) and subsequent events.

Spaceflight validation of technology for point-of-care monitoring of peripheral blood WBC and differential in astronauts during space missions.

During long duration orbital space missions, astronauts experience immune system dysregulation, the persistent reactivation of latent herpesviruses, and some degree of clinical incidence. During planned NASA 'Artemis' deep space missions the stressors that cause this phenomenon will increase, while clinical care capability will likely be reduced. There is currently minimal clinical laboratory capability aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Alterations in hematologic indices during long-duration spaceflight.

Background: Although a state of anemia is perceived to be associated with spaceflight, to date a peripheral blood hematologic assessment of red blood cell (RBC) indices has not been performed during long-duration space missions.

Methods: This investigation collected whole blood samples from astronauts participating in up to 6-months orbital spaceflight, and returned those samples (ambient storage) to Earth for analysis. As samples were always collected near undock of a returning vehicle, the delay from collection to analysis never exceeded 48 h.

Thyroid status of Space Shuttle crewmembers: effects of iodine removal.

Introduction: Iodine is often used for water purification and has been used throughout the U.S. space program.