Rationale for a hyperbaric treatment capability at a Lunar Station.
Missions to establish a permanent presence on the Moon will include a significant amount of extravehicular activity (EVA), which carries the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). Factors which will influence that risk include: cabin and space suit pressure environments, frequency of an activity level during EVA, and the possibility of a loss-of-pressure mishap. These factors were considered for Space Station Freedom (SSF), resulting in the decision to include a hyperbaric airlock capable of treating DCS. Using concepts from operational medicine, the need for such a capability is determined by its influence on mission risk. In comparison to SSF, a Lunar Station will have gravity, a higher EVA rate, physically more DCS provocative EVA, and little, if any, capacity for medical evacuation. Therefore, unless Lunar mission planners can provide pressure environments that offer near zero risk of DCS for nominal operations, a hyperbaric treatment capability should be included.
Dowell
G L
GL
Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, FL.
D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000628:therapy; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D016081:Moon