Getting sick in space: How would NASA handle an astronaut disease outbreak?
By
Chelsea Gohd
Published Mar 16, 2020 6:53 PM EDT
As coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, it's interesting to ponder what would happen if such a virus were to spread in space.
On
rare occasions throughout spaceflight history, astronauts have fallen
ill while in space. While floating off-Earth, astronauts have endured
upper respiratory infections (URI) or colds, urinary tract infections
and skin infections, Jonathan Clark, a former (six-time) crew surgeon
for NASA's Space Shuttle program and current associate professor of neurology and space medicine at the
Center for Space Medicine at the Baylor College Of Medicine, told
Space.com.
Expedition 62 astronauts pose for a photo while inside a visiting SpaceX Dragon CRS-20 resupply craft at the International Space Station. The masks they're wearing are to protect against particles and irritants that could have come loose inside the Dragon during its flight. (Image: © NASA)
During Apollo 7 in 1968, the crew got colds in space and, according to Clark, "it had a
significant impact." Cmdr. Wally Schirra most likely came aboard with a
mild cold and spread it to the other crew members. The astronauts ran
out of medication and tissues and refused to wear their helmets while
reentering Earth's atmosphere, Clark said.
Similar difficulties befell astronauts on Apollo 8 and Apollo 9, who also experienced colds. Following these missions, NASA implemented a pre-flight quarantine that called for limited, monitored contact with other humans to try to ensure the crew's health and safety.
But how have things changed since the early days of spaceflight and these early cases of space illness. Is it possible that astronauts might one day have to combat more serious illnesses in potentially more difficult off-Earth environments?
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ON SPACE.COM
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News / Astronomy
Getting sick in space: How would NASA handle an astronaut disease outbreak?
By Chelsea Gohd
Published Mar 16, 2020 6:53 PM EDT
Partner Content
As coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, it's interesting to ponder what would happen if such a virus were to spread in space.
On rare occasions throughout spaceflight history, astronauts have fallen ill while in space. While floating off-Earth, astronauts have endured upper respiratory infections (URI) or colds, urinary tract infections and skin infections, Jonathan Clark, a former (six-time) crew surgeon for NASA's Space Shuttle program and current associate professor of neurology and space medicine at the Center for Space Medicine at the Baylor College Of Medicine, told Space.com.
Expedition 62 astronauts pose for a photo while inside a visiting SpaceX Dragon CRS-20 resupply craft at the International Space Station. The masks they're wearing are to protect against particles and irritants that could have come loose inside the Dragon during its flight. (Image: © NASA)
During Apollo 7 in 1968, the crew got colds in space and, according to Clark, "it had a significant impact." Cmdr. Wally Schirra most likely came aboard with a mild cold and spread it to the other crew members. The astronauts ran out of medication and tissues and refused to wear their helmets while reentering Earth's atmosphere, Clark said.
Similar difficulties befell astronauts on Apollo 8 and Apollo 9, who also experienced colds. Following these missions, NASA implemented a pre-flight quarantine that called for limited, monitored contact with other humans to try to ensure the crew's health and safety.
But how have things changed since the early days of spaceflight and these early cases of space illness. Is it possible that astronauts might one day have to combat more serious illnesses in potentially more difficult off-Earth environments?
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING ON SPACE.COM
Report a Typo