Enabling Human Space Exploration Missions Through Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations (EIMO)

Dana R Levin; Jon Steller; Arian Anderson; Jay Lemery; Benjamin Easter; David C Hilmers; Kris R Lehnhardt

doi:10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3255513

Enabling Human Space Exploration Missions Through Progressively Earth Independent Medical Operations (EIMO)

IEEE Open J Eng Med Biol. 2023 Mar 10:4:162-167. doi: 10.1109/OJEMB.2023.3255513. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Dana R Levin^{1

2}, Jon Steller³, Arian Anderson⁴, Jay Lemery^{5

6}, Benjamin Easter^{5

6}, David C Hilmers^{7

8}, Kris R Lehnhardt^{1

8

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency MedicineBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX 77030 USA.
² Department of Preventive Medicine Division of Aerospace MedicineUniversity of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX 77555 USA.
³ Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of California Irvine Irvine CA 92697 USA.
⁴ Department of Emergency MedicineSchool of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora CO 80045 USA.
⁵ Department of Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Aurora CO 80045 USA.
⁶ NASA Johnson Space Center Houston TX 77058 USA.
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine and PediatricsBaylor College of Medicine Houston TX 77030 USA.
⁸ Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Houston TX 77030 USA.

Abstract

Goal: Current Space Medicine operations depend on terrestrial support to manage medical events. As astronauts travel to destinations such as the Moon, Mars, and beyond, distance will substantially limit this support and require increasing medical autonomy from the crew. This paper defines Earth Independent Medical Operations (EIMO) and identifies key elements of a conceptual EIMO system. Methods: The NASA Human Research Program Exploration Medical Capability Element held a 2-day conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX with NASA experts representing all aspects of Space Medicine. Results: EIMO will be a process enabling progressively resilient deep space exploration systems and crews to reduce risk and increase mission success. Terrestrial assets will continue to provide pre-mission screening, planning, health maintenance, and prevention, while onboard medical care will increasingly be the purview of the crew. Conclusions: This paper defines and describes the key components of EIMO.

Keywords: Aerospace medicine; ExMC; Mars; NASA; space medicine.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Human Research Program, Exploration Medical Capability Element.