JOURNEY TO MARS (Torpor Stasis-Therapeutic
Hypothermia Coma) By: Paul D.Goree 2014
Sci-fi becomes reality, as NASA
along with Atlanta based, Space Works develop advanced prototypes for space
travel. John Bradford CEO of Space Works provided NASA with the preliminary
method of space travel. Long-term space travel has been a mission of many, yet has
remained remote. The hazardous space
environment, could create several threats to astronauts/consumers, health and
psychological wellbeing. NASA has found that besides the psychological stress
of isolation, astronauts would have to overcome, zero gravity for extended
periods. Consequences of zero gravity is muscle wastage and bone
decalcification. Also of concern is radiation from the Sun over long periods of exposure, can result
in cancer.
Until recently, these obstacles
prevented strategic development of long term human space missions. With medical
technical advancements, Bradford’s team has
created a sleeper spaceship. The sleeper spaceship carries 6 passengers and
utilities artificially induced hibernation. NASA space studies now can be a
reality, as astronauts travel unconsciously while their metabolism is altered
into slow motion. Space travel to Mars is a 180 days, with this new technology,
160 of those days could be spent in a state of torpor stasis.
The torpor periods
would be supervised by rotating flight members. Each member would be scheduled to
awake for a brief period, to check in on the other members. This would include
checking their intravenous feeding tubes, urine removal systems, Earth
communication, and temperature modulators. The members are awakened when the hibernation
module hooks up a medical system. The medical system inserts body cooling tubes
through the nostrils. Heating pads regulate temperature, to make sure the body
doesn’t cool too rapidly.
The body temperature must drop only
about five degrees Fahrenheit—98.6 to about 93 degrees. Sedatives in the
feeding lines would suppress the members shiver flexes. The space sleeper unit, rotates creating a centrifugal
force simulating gravity. This would prevent the consequences of zero gravity.
The hibernation of astronauts makes the possibility of long term space missions
more of a reality. These missions would be easier and more affordable with
minimal health risk.
(Image: http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/torpor_inducing_transfer_habitatforhumanstasistomars.png)
Torpor Stasis is
based on current medical procedures, used to suspend a patient during cardiac
arrest incidences, attenuating injuries, brain injuries, and improving neurologic
outcomes. In 2005 American Heart
Association provided guidelines for therapeutic hypothermia, a resuscitation
science dating back to Hippocrates. The procedure includes returning an
unconscious adult patient to spontaneous circulation after hospital cardiac
arrest at 32-34 Celsius for 12-24 hours. The cooling method used to induce
hypothermia coma includes ice packs, cooling blankets with heat exchange
devices, cooling helmet for the brain, cooling methods for catheter-based technologies,
cooling methods for infusion of cold fluids.
Achieving cooling
target temperature (torpor stasis) can be reached within 3-4 hours. The rewarming
begins 24 hours after the operation. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is used to
control hypertension. While hemodynamic
instability is monitored in case of dysrhythmia (bleeding) develops. ECG Osbourne monitor heart rate and the skin
is checked every 2-6 hours for thermal injuries caused by the cold blankets.
The use of
therapeutic hypothermia in space travel is, "Ultimately, what we'll have
to do…It may take some time to get it to the state of effectiveness we want it
to go to," Bradford stated. The project is less than 20 years (estimated
2030). NASA’s recent SLS (Space Launch System) with the new Orion spacecraft
expected to launch December 04, 2014: NASA is preparing for the first human test
mission to Mars, in 2030. Bradford believes that if all goes well with NASA’s
intended future launches, the sleep spacecraft could be a great vehicle for
colonization of the moon or mars.
REFERENCES :
Adler, Jonathan (MD).(2014).
Therapeutic Hypothermia. Medscap. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/812407-overview
Brumfield, Ben.
(2014). Sleeper spaceship could carry first humans to Mars in hibernation
state. CNN. Retrieved from: http://us.cnn.com/2014/10/07/tech/innovation/mars-hibernation-flight/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
N.A.S.A, (2014).
Human Exploration: Goal 4: Prepare for the Human Exploration of Mars. N.A.S.A.
Programs and Missions. Retrieved: from http://mars.nasa.gov/programmissions/science/goal4/
McKinnon, Mika.
(2014). The Orion Spacecraft is at the Launch Pad and Strapped to its rocket. Space-Kinja.
Retrieved from: http://space.io9.com/the-orion-spacecraft-is-at-the-launch-pad-and-strapped-1658202641
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